30 PRUNING OF STANDARD APPLES. 



while young, they would when they grew old, 

 and the tree not grow so handsome, 



I must add a further reason for not cutting 

 down the heads of fresh planted standard 

 apples : I have often seen them] when they have 

 been cut down, instead of making fine young 

 heads, throw out short shoots two or three 

 inches long, and those (if they are good 

 bearers) formed into bloom, which stagnates 

 the tree, and seldom forms a good head 

 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 

 where they grow too thick of wood, and this 

 should be performed with a saw where the 

 branches are large, but be sure to saw them 

 off without splitting or injuring the bark, and 

 as the saw will leave it rough, the part where 

 it has been^ sawed off should be made smooth 

 with a sharp knife, otherwise it will not heal 

 so well or so soon ; but I shall treat further 

 on this subject under the head of Canker. 



