68 SCIENCE AND FRUIT GROWING 



precocious variety is in question, as in the case of Bramley, 

 shown in Fig. 10, p. 60, the absence of pruning produces far 

 less deleterious effects, and, though the shape of the tree and the 

 disposition of the branches might clearly have been improved 

 by some pruning, the result is by no means so bad as might have 

 been anticipated. Similar results were obtained with Potts' 

 Seedling, whilst Cox's Orange Pippin afforded an instance inter- 

 mediate between this and Stirling Castle. 



The simple conclusion, therefore, is that pruning should be 

 reduced so far as is consistent with the formation of a well-shaped 

 tree, capable of carrying such a crop as it is likely to produce. 

 The pruning will, of course, retard the development of the tree, 

 but the extension of the branches is arrested more than the 

 filling out of the branches, and hence a more compact and sturdier 

 tree will be produced. 



