CALIPX)RNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



conception of an agency to serve certain purposes. The orchardist 

 does not prusue uniformity merely for its own sake, but rather for 

 the purpose it serves, and the fact that many thinking men have 

 practically agreed upon a certain form as an ideal of producing 

 ability is demonstration that such form is, at least, approximately 

 correct. There is an industrial conception of a tree, which is neces- 

 sarily and essentially different from an art conception of pic- 

 turesqueness based upon the feral type. The wild tree is rude and 

 crude from a cultural point of view. 



PRACTICAL PURPOSES OF PRUNING 



One of the first things for the beginner to undertake as he 

 approaches the practice of pruning trees and vines is to form a good 

 idea of the purposes to be served. Imitation is not the foundation 

 of intelligent pruning, though it yields many valuable suggestions. 

 Satisfactory work rests upon a correct understanding of the reasons 

 for each act and to the attainment of this, all study, observation and 

 experience should tend. Possessing this, one can proceed capably, 

 modifying method to meet condition, and producing desirable 

 results. Receive all suggestions and then go quietly to the tree and 

 study your problem in its shade. The tree is the best revelator of 

 its needs. Some of the best pruners in California are men who were 

 untrained to horticulture before they entered upon their orchard 

 work. Reading, discussion, systematic instruction are all valuable. 

 They save much time and many errors, but recourse to the tree 

 affords the sovereign test of attainment. 



These may be counted among the practical purposes to be 

 attained by pruning in California : (a) Convenience of the grower; 

 (b) health and strength of the tree ; (c) regulation of heat and 

 light; (d) attainment of strong bearing wood; (e) attainment of 

 size in fruit; (/) promotion of regular bearing. Examine trees with 

 reference to their embodiment of these characters and one can 

 hardly fail to secure rays of light upon the subject of pruning which 

 seems dark to so many. 



Convenience. Trees which branch near the ground are most 

 quickly and cheaply handled in all the operations of pruning, spray- 

 ing, fruit-thinning and picking. Low trees with obliquely-rising 

 branches are more easily cultivated than any form with horizontal 

 branches, unless the head is carried so high that the animals pass 

 easily under the tree. To do this sacrifices all the other conven- 

 iences and economies which actually determine profit, and is really 

 out of the question from a commercial point of view. Sometimes it 

 does not pay to pick some fruits at a certain distance above the 

 ground, when picking at half that distance yields a profit. 



