114 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



pruning as a means of thinning the fruit. In fact, a system 

 of pruning under which the tree with axillary fruit-buds 

 would thrive would cause the apple tree to overgrow to 

 such an extent that it would be rendered almost barren. 

 The point may be more fully illustrated by comparing the 

 peach and the cherry. Although both develop axillary 

 fruit-buds, they differ in their fruiting habits; the fruit- 

 buds of the cherry are seldom found on the stronger- 

 growing new wood, and severe pruning, as practiced on 

 the peach, would throw much of the strength of the tree 

 into the production of strong new wood that would carry 

 very few fruit-buds. We have said that in the apple the 

 type of fruit-bearing is from terminal buds, yet many 

 varieties develop axillary fruit-buds. Varieties that de- 

 velop axillary fruit-buds and bear terminal fruit-buds on 

 young spurs all tend to overbear, and require severe 

 pruning. To a certain extent, therefore, one can decide 

 for himself how much to prune by observing how the tree 

 bears its fruit. 



Treatment of Wounds 



The argument advanced in favor of dressing wounds is 

 that it prevents decay and checks evaporation, both of 

 which might interfere with the healing process. While 

 in our arid climate the first is hardly applicable, the second 

 should probably be doubly important. Yet the matter 

 of dressing wounds is not so important but that work 

 improperly done is worse than no treatment. A good 

 lead paint is one of the most satisfactory dressings yet 

 found. Rather a thick paint should be used, and care- 

 less daubing of the surrounding bark should be avoided. 

 Grafting-wax is a good dressing, but is rather expensive, 



