Principles of Pruning 175 



to admit the sunlight and air, while in the brilliant sun- 

 light and clear dry air of the West it is advisable to have 

 the trees with a more dense head to prevent the tendency 

 to sun-scald. 



While there is more or less of difference in the style 

 or system of pruning used in different sections of the 

 country, there are certain well defined principles which will 

 apply to all plants in any climate, or under any system of 

 pruning. Pruning will modify the vigor of plants, and in 

 some ways will cause them to produce larger and better 

 fruits. It will keep the plants within bounds and may 

 change the habit from wood producing to fruit producing. 

 Pruning allows the removal of superfluous parts and of in- 

 jured branches or roots. Intelligent pruning will facilitate 

 the operations of spraying, harvesting and cultivating the 

 orchard, and will enable the operator to train the plant in 

 the form most fitting with his ideal. 



In a plant growing normally there is a balance in the 

 relation between the root and top, each supported and 

 nourished by the other; and when either is mutilated the 

 relation is upset and the balance disturbed. Heavy prun- 

 ing of the top in the dormant season tends to increase the 

 amount of wood growth that will be made the following 

 season. In a contrary way, heavy pruning of the roots 

 will result in reducing the amount of wood growth by 

 shutting off the amount of crude food material that is 

 gathered from the soil. Heavy pruning of the top, on the 

 other hand, tends to develop weak portions of the plant 

 by allowing those parts to receive more food. In heavy 

 pruning it is always advisable to remove the weakest parts, 

 as they are usually unable to thrive, even under better con- 

 ditions. But since heavy pruning stimulates the produc- 

 tion of wood, suckers will be formed, some of which may 

 take the place of the weak parts, and develop into strong 

 branches, restoring the plant to its normal shape and habit. 

 The most rational system allows the plant to take its nat- 

 ural form, and this is especially the case with our fruit 

 producing trees. This will vary somewhat with the age of 

 a plant, as when trees are young they tend to a more up- 



