226 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



CHAPTER III. 

 The Principles of Pruning. 



HAVING already described in detail the methods of pruning 

 applicable to each kind of fruit, all that remains for us 

 to do in this chapter is to deal with the general principles 

 of the art. 



Object of Pruning.- First of all, let us deal with the 

 object of pruning a fruit tree. Primarily, we prune a 

 tree for the purpose of training it into a given shape, as 

 explained in Chapter II. Secondly, we continue to do 

 it in order to ensure the maintenance of that shape ; and, 

 thirdly, for encouraging the production of new growth 

 or fruit buds. Each method, or object, has its own 

 special significance, and each has to be undertaken with 

 skill and judgment. The skilled gardener knows by ex- 

 perience the effect of removing a branch here or shorten- 

 ing one there, and he acts accordingly. The non-skilled 

 person, as a rule, proceeds to prune by " rule of thumb " 

 in other words, according to a vague conception of 

 attaining what he desires and it is he who inevitably 

 fails to attain his ideal. For that reason we must ex- 

 plain as clearly as we can the definite reasons for the 

 summer pruning and the winter pruning of the shoots and 

 branches ; also the pruning of the roots. 



Philosophy of Pruning. A healthy tree has, as a rule, 

 a rooting capacity equal to the vigour of its branches. 

 If, therefore, we severely prune the branches, and do not 

 at the same time restrict the growth and number of the 

 roots, a reciprocity, or perfect balance, between branch 

 and root is wanting, and we find the latter is capable 

 of transmitting more food to the former than its limited 



