NATURE OF PRUNING 5 



practice. I now ask you to follow a similar argu- 

 ment with reference to pruning. This subject is, 

 perhaps, even more important than the other, for 

 every owner of a fruit tree expects to prune, or 

 at least he considers the advisability of the opera- 

 tion. There is the : greatest difference of opinion 

 as to the merits of particular styles and methods 

 of pruning, and perhaps equal difference as to 

 the effect of the operation on the life and health 

 of the tree. Perhaps every fruit-grower has 

 observed evil effects to result from pruning, and 

 many of these observers have reasoned therefrom 

 that pruning is itself injurious, or at least haz- 

 ardous. I cannot, of course, uphold nor explain 

 away the examples of injury which follow prun- 

 ing. They are patent even"to the casual observer; 

 but we must not exalt individual instances, how- 

 ever numerous, into proofs of the perniciousness 

 of pruning. There should have been at this day 

 sufficient study and experience to enable us to 

 pass upon the merits of the practice, as a whole. 

 It is urgent, also, that the subject be discussed, 

 for however much of correct teaching may be pro- 

 mulgated, there is a constantly recurring wave of 

 error and prejudice. For myself, I am convinced 

 that pruning, even when somewhat heroic, is not 

 a devitalizing practice; and in support of this 

 conviction I shall present arguments from three 

 sources, philosophy, plant physiology, and com- 

 mon experience. I must say at the beginning, 



