PRUNING FEUIT TREES 



223 



Cut away one-third 



wormy apples drop prematurely, 

 or one-half of this top, and 

 the new life of the tree will 

 manifest itself in a vigorous 

 growth of water sprouts, 

 lower down on the tree. 

 These should then be cut 

 away the next year, except a 

 few which should be pruned 

 and left to form new 

 branches. All cut surfaces 

 should be painted with white 

 or red lead to prevent decay. 



The dead and dying 

 branches, which are always 

 found in old trees, should 

 be removed, and all such 

 branches should be cut close 

 to the main stem from which 

 they branch. The dead 

 branches are a menace to the 

 rest of the orchard, for in 

 them live and breed the in- 

 sect and fungous pests. 



Perhaps in our old trees 

 there are bad forks. These 

 should be bolted together. 



Perhaps there are great rot- F T - 62. YOUNG APPLE TREE 

 . . PROPERLY PRUNED FOR 



ten cavities. These should be SETTING OUT 



cleaned out, washed with copper sulphate solution, and 



