THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



above the ground; the next branch several 

 inches higher, and a little further round the 

 stalk, to the right or left, but not directly op- 

 posite; and so with all three or four main 

 branches. Let each be a little higher, and at 

 a slight angle to the one preceding it. Then, 

 as the tree grows, the weight will be evenly dis- 

 tributed. The main stalk should also be cut 

 back several inches each season. Cuts in prun- 

 ing should always be made immediately above 

 a bud; otherwise, the branch will die back to 

 that point, and dead wood will attract the fun- 

 goids of decay. 



The most important reason for pruning reg- 

 ularly is that fruit trees throw buds one season 

 and develop the following, and fruit is only 

 borne on one or two-year-old wood; there- 

 fore, if trees are neglected for two or three 

 years, they will bear all their fruit at the 

 extreme ends of spindly branches, where R 

 cannot be fully nourished; and rectifying 

 the neglect means destroying the next year's 

 buds. 



158 



