The Canadian Horticulturist. 



135 



PRUNING FRUIT TREES. 



APPLES. 



HERE is yet room for great improvement in this much- 

 written-about operation, judging from the specimens one is 

 continually meeting with in gardens. More original thought 

 on the subject and less adherence to old methods handed 

 down from generation to generation is wanted. Take 

 espaliers and dwarf trees, for instance ; how much more 

 fruit might be gathered if one half of the stronger wood was cut right away and 

 thinner and more extended growth allowed, instead of pruning off all the annual 

 shoots only and forming the thick, stubby and scrubby-headed samples of 

 professional skill, which will not admit any light and scarcely leave room for 

 fruit to grow at all. It is very necessary with any kind of apple tree that the 

 branches should be kept thin enough to allow the rays of the sun full play 

 amongst the fruit. I am speaking now with reference specially to the garden, 

 where only choice fruit should be grown. Gather an apple from an outer branch 

 and another from the inside of a thick-foliaged tree. On tasting, the latter will 

 be found to bear no comparison to the former with its rich appetising flavor and 

 rosy, attractive color ; therefore, get as much as possible of this health-giving 

 sunshine concentrated in the fruit, and do not be afraid to use the saw on a tree 

 that has been neglected in this respect for many years. Of course, in the case 

 of a tree properly pruned from the first, and some kinds scarcely require pruning 

 at all, a saw would not be required, as cutting off large branches must be 

 considered as only a necessary evil. When done, the bough should, for appear- 

 ance sake, be cut right away and no stump left. As regards profit, this thinning 

 out is of great importance with some varieties, especially in these times when 

 size and color in fruit are of so much more value than quality. We cannot, or 

 we do not care to. well thin out the fruit to advantage on a standard tree, so the 

 next best course is to thin the branches. I had an instance the past season of 

 the advantage of thorough thinning. An apple tree of a good local variety, was 

 so laden and the boughs so fallen together that the fruit reached only half the 

 usual size and was devoid of color, while on a tree of the same sort recently 

 grafted, the apples were very fine, well-colored, and a fortnight earlier, and, 

 consequently, worth quite double in the market. 



But I cannot approve of the general orchard method of taking out all the 

 inner bearing sprays ; rather I encourage this central growth to a certain extent, 

 and in re-grafting even insert grafts on young shoots strong enough for the 

 purpose, as this tends to preserve a well-balanced head and is conducive to the 

 longevity of the tree. Many an apple tree which has long succumbed to the 

 elements would be standing to-day if more central growth had been the aim and 



