Pruning the Apple 181 



callus which will close over the wound cannot extend out 

 on a stub, but will quickly close over a wound that is 

 smoothly cut and parallel with the limb. 



On large wounds the wood should be coated with some 

 waterproof covering, such as white lead paint, grafting wax 

 or tanglefoot. This dressing is not for the purpose of has- 

 tening the healing, as it will not do so, but it will close up 

 the pores of the wood against the entry of water and 

 fungi that cause the wood to rot. 



Pruning the Apple 



The work of pruning should start at the time the tree 

 is planted in the orchard. This is a critical time in the 

 life of the tree and neglect of pruning at that time influ- 

 ences the tree during its remaining years. 



It needs to be borne in mind that there is a physiologi- 

 cal reason for this early pruning, although it is frequently 

 neglected or overlooked by the planter, who may later 

 wonder why his trees died or made such a weak growth. 

 The roots serve the tree to collect water and mineral ele- 

 ments from the soil, which is carried through the sap wood 

 to the leaves, and there elaborated and made over into the 

 form in which it can be used by the tree in extending its 

 branches and developing its fruit. 



When the tree is dug from the nursery most of its root 

 system is left in the soil, and unless the top is reduced in 

 proportion it will constitute too great a drain upon the 

 small root system. This results in weakening the tree, 

 frequently extending over a period of three years or more. 

 It may even result in the death of the tree through its 

 having used up all of the food material that is stored in the 

 cells of its body before the roots can draw sufficient from 

 the soil to supply the needs of the developing branches. 



In preparing new trees for planting, all of the bruised 

 and broken roots need to be cut off smoothly so as to leave 

 no ragged ends. All of the main roots should be shortened 

 in to six inches or 1-ess, with a proportionate reduction of 

 the top. 



