26 PRUNING OF DWARF APPLES. 



graft, and go on till the tree is in a state of 

 maturity, in order to render the process as 

 clear as possible. 



Suppose your maiden tree has only one or 

 two shoots, it is then necessary to cut them 

 down to four or five buds, to get a sufficiency of 

 wood to form the bottom of the tree ; the 

 following season leave about five of the most 

 regular shoots which will be quite sufficient, 

 or even four, for they are none the better for 

 being crowded with limbs from the stem. 



But as apples, sometimes the first year after 

 planting, will scarcely make any growth, they 

 had better stand one year after planting be- 

 fore they are headed down; but I should 

 prefer those trees which have been one year 

 headed down in the nursery, having enough 

 shoots to form the bottom of the tree ; I should 

 not leave more than six shoots at the outside, 

 but what you take out, take out clean, and be 

 sure not to leave any blemish, nor bruise the 

 .bark with the knife, for that part of the tree 

 the insect is very fond of, and of all others, it 

 is the most dangerous. 



I here beg leave to differ from those who re- 

 commend heading down dwarf apple trees, 

 when they have wood sufficient to form the 



