2 c c j , RRHJ;CIP ( LEo AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



pcrts, as evidenced by the ill effects observed in countless 

 fruit and shade trees and illustrated by many of the half- 

 tones shown in this volume. 



FIG. 1 RENOVATING AN OLD, NEGLECTED APPLE TREE 



Notice the upright growths which started as water sprouts, but which have de- 

 veloped into fruiting branches with many short and stubby fruit spurs. 



Pruning demands knowledge of plant physiology. Un- 

 less the pruner has at least a working knowledge of how 

 plants grow he will be unable to prune intelligently to 

 secure desired results. On the contrary, he may, and 

 probably will, do far more immediate or ultimate harm 

 than good. Simply to top off limbs with an ax (Fig. 61) 

 or improperly to remove others with a saw (Fig. 201) is 

 not pruning, but usually a species of tree butchery or 

 vivisection ; for the tree is almost sure to suffer and 

 sooner or later die from the effects. Again, without hav- 

 ing a definite, desired end and intelligently working within 

 the scope of the underlying physiological principles, the 

 specimen treated may develop nothing but disease, death, 



