WINTER -INJURED PLANTS 141 



being any stronger than another. The chief thing 

 to remember is that in summer pruning the weak 

 branches of the shoot should not be touched ; it is 

 only the stronger ones that require checking." 



These remarks have a most important bearing 

 on the treatment to be given to severely winter - 

 injured trees. My own thought about the mat- 

 ter is expressed in the following quotation from 

 "Principles of Fruit- Gro wing" : "The proper treat- 

 ment for frozen-back trees must be determined 

 for each particular case; but it should be borne 

 in mind that the injured portion is no longer of 

 use to the plant, whereas it may be a positive 

 detriment by accelerating the evaporation of mois- 

 ture. The best treatment for plants seriously 

 injured upon the extremities is to cut them back 

 very heavily. This severe heading -in sometimes 

 to the extent of three or four feet removes the 

 driest and weakest portions, and concentrates the 

 rnrro-y of the tree into a comparatively small area 

 of top. Heavy pruning always tends toward the 

 production of wood, and this wood production 

 is probably never more needed than in winter- 

 injured trees, for it tends to renew the vitality of 

 the tree. The philosophy of this becomes appar- 

 ent upon a moment's reflection. The browned 

 and injured wood can never regain its former 

 usefulness. New tissue must be developed as 

 quickly as possible, in order to carry forward and 

 to maintain the vegetative energies. This new 



