IX 



PRUNING 



NOWHERE is the struggle for existence keener 

 and fiercer than in the vegetable kingdom. 

 Thousands of seedlings sprout for every one that 

 reaches maturity, and everywhere along the way, from 

 root to branch and fruit, there is the same lavish 

 extravagance in Nature. 



This is the chief reason for Pruning, broadly 

 speaking; the principle of it is always to relieve the 

 plant by reducing this struggle. For, of course, when 

 its efforts are constantly strained to the utmost in just 

 keeping alive, it cannot produce flowers or fruit in 

 abundance nor of very high quality. And similarly 

 when there are too many branches, none can be as 

 strong and leafy as they should, for all are insuffi- 

 ciently nourished. 



The process of pruning is an operation which 

 has three objects in view, viz: 



1. Pruning proper, that is removing parts of the 

 plant for the purpose of producing better growth in the 

 remaining parts. 



2. Training, or arranging the branches of a 

 plant to conform to certain directions of growth, 



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