,,4 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



was not space sufilcient for their full development, and fair results have been 

 obtained, this is no argument for scrimping the tree as to space. Provide a 

 roomy house for your trees, so that each and every one may have an equal 

 chance, and they will more than repay you for your liberality. 



Pruning may be viewed under three different aspects. In the first place, 

 all the very weakest wood should be removed. Then, if necessary, shorten 

 back the wood intended for the following season's fruiting, if it is overcrowded. 

 When the fruiting shoots are more than eighteen inches long, they are improved 

 by shortening back some; this will make the growth become more uniform. 

 For instance, if a growth of two feet or more has been made in one season, short- 

 ening this back to eighteen inches will cause the shoot to break more regularly 

 and also stronger. This refers to medium growths. A tree planted eight 

 or ten years will throw shorter wood, sometimes not over a foot long; this should 

 not be shortened back. 



A tree that has been pruned so that the fruiting wood, when arranged and 

 tied in all over, is five to six inches apart, is about right. This refers to full- 

 grown trees. Give the trees the proper care in the matter of disbudding. Then 

 in due time select a shoot at the base, and train this during the Summer. Re- 

 move the shoots that have borne fruit as soon as the crop is gathered, except 

 those that are needed to balance the tree evenly. The process is a simple one 

 when understood, and an interesting one from start to finish. Be sure to guard 

 against the overcrowding of branches and foliage. 



Next after pruning comes the operation of tying the shoots into place. If 

 the tree has been properlj- attended to, there will be sufficient branches to spread 

 evenly all over the trellis or frame work. Distribute and tie all the main branches 

 first, then tie in the fruiting wood, starting at the bottom of the tree and working 

 up. The strongest shoots may be secured with soft string and the smaller 

 ones with raffia; do not tie the latter tight, but allow for the growth of the 

 Summer months. Peach trees when pruned and tied e^•enly all over the trellis 

 look very neat. 



The young tree's tendency to rank growth may be modified to some extent 

 by allowing a fairly heavj- crop of fruit during the first three or four years. If 

 this will not check the exuberance, then root pruning must be resorted to. This 

 consists in shortening back the strongest roots, or digging a trench around the 

 tree three or four feet from the base, according to size. If the strong growing 

 roots are thus checked, there will be a much firmer and more moderate growth. 

 Root pruning will also cause the tree to produce more fibrous roots, and these 

 are the most desirable for the fruit-bearing wood. When the trench has been 

 dug around the tree, cut the roots with a sharp knife, making a clean cut which 

 will heal quickly. All Peach pruning, by the way, should be done with a knife. 



The effects of root pruning will become apparent the following season. 

 The reduction of nourishment will induce less rapid development. Judgment, 

 however, must be used in this work. Do not root-prune too severely, as it will 

 have a bad effect on the tree for a year at least. While the fruit buds would 

 no doubt be plentiful under the close root-pruning process, the fruit would be 

 smaller in size. 



