PRUNING OF STANDARD APPLES. 33 



year, it will get strong, and the main shoots 

 from the stem will get strong likewise, and 

 sooner get out of the way of cattle. 



But where you plant trees that have been two 

 or three years headed down in the nursery, it is 

 necessary to cut out any cross shoots, or where 

 two shoots are close together to take away one ; 

 for although they might not injure while young, 

 they would when they grew old, and the tree not 

 grow so handsome. 



I must add another reason for not cutting 

 down the heads of fresh planted standard apples: 

 I have often seen them when they have been <;ut 

 down, instead of making fine young heads, throw 

 out short shoots two or three inches long, anci 

 those (if they are good bearers) formed into 

 bloom, which stagnates the tree, and seldom 

 forms a good Jiead after. 



Standard trees planted, and their heads left 

 in this state, will require no pruning till the 

 trees get large and too full of wood, except an 

 occasional cross branch, and taking out all dead 

 pieces. 



But old trees should occasionally be thinned 



c 5 



