PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 



109 



round, and open head, possessing the thriftiness of a young 

 tree, and bearing as large and excellent fruit. Fig. 154 shows 

 the tree before being thus cut back, and Fig. 155 the same, 

 with all the ends of the branches (shown by dotted lines) re- 

 moved. It must be remembered here, as in all other instances, 

 that the outer shoots must be sufficiently thinned back to admit 

 light to the interior. The shearing, which is sometimes 

 adopted, like that of a common hedge, only thickens the foli- 

 age on the outside, and increases instead of diminishing the 

 evil. 



Pruning the Cherry. The cherry usually needs but little 

 pruning, after the young tree has been properly formed. As 



FlG. 156. Trimmed Quince. 



FIG. 157. Young Quince, l\ jra 

 which a good tree may be 

 formed. 



wounds made in winter are apt to form gum, and the removal 

 of much foliage in summer injures the tree by checking its 

 growth, the rubbing and pinching process should be exclu- 

 sively resorted to, in forming an even and well-distributed 

 head, nearly in the same manner as already described for the 

 apple. The only care, as the trees become older, is to see 

 that no shoots, by outgrowing the others, form a distorted top. 

 Nearly the same rules apply to the plum ; but as single 

 shoots sometimes make a long growth in one season, an eye 



