104 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 



principles, thinning out or cutting back any secondary or 

 other branches, as shall seem necessary to admit light and 

 air, or give vigor or symmetry of form to the tree; but as the 

 greatest force of sap will flow to the central and upright 

 branches, they will need to be cut back most, retaining as 

 near as may be the pyramidal form ; ever bearing in mind this 

 fact, that no one prunes too much ; and, after having pruned 

 well and gathered rich harvests of luscious pears, if you still 



FIG. 146. Two-Year-Old Tree 

 marked for trimming. 



FIG. 147. Dwarf Apple. 



wish to grow them larger and better than ever before, prune a 

 little closer, and that result will certainly be attained; and 

 the vigor* beauty, and longevity of your trees will be increased 

 thereby." 



Throughout the whole process of pruning and training 

 pyramids, as well as every other tree, the frequent error of 

 allowing the shoots and branches to become thick and crowd 

 each other, should be carefully avoided. The size and beauty 

 of the fruit, and its perfection in richness and flavor, where 

 there is plenty of room for the full, vigorous, and healthy 

 development of the LEAVES which supply the material for the 

 growing fruit, will repay well the labor required for this ex- 

 cellent result. 



Dwarf apples (on Paradise stocks) are usually trained to a 

 round and rather spreading open head, the same principles to 



