9 8 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 



smooth stem. If the cut is made too near the bud, as in Fig. 

 132, the drying surface abstracts moisture and enfeebles the 

 bud, which either fails to grow, or grows feebly. Trees that 

 are soft and porous, as the peach and grape, should have more 

 wood left above the bud, to prevent 

 drying; and in pruning down to all 

 inserted buds, it is generally safest to 

 leave an inch or two until the young 

 shoot has fairly 

 commenced grow- 

 ing, when the 



FlG. 136. Well-formed FIG. 137. Unformed FIG. 138. Unformed Tree, 

 Young Tree. Tree. left unpruned till older. 



stump may be pared down close to it by a single draw-cut of a 

 sharp knife, made sideways, so that the point of the knife 

 may not strike the shoot (Figs. 133 and 134). 4. In shaping 

 the heads of young trees, prune down to an inside bud, where 

 an upright shoot is required ; but prune down to an outside, 

 bud where a more horizontal or spreading growth is sought, 

 as, for instance, in such vertical growers as the Northern Spy 

 and Early Strawberry apple-trees. 



Pruning Young Apple- Trees. Directions have been already 

 given in relation to forming a high or low top. In conse- 

 quence of the crowded growth of nursery-trees, they are apt 

 to push upward to reach the light, at the expense of the side- 

 branches. In addition to this influence, being closely trimmed 



