CHAPTER III 

 THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRUNING* 



38. Good and bad effects of pruning. Every owner of 

 a fruit tree expects to prune, or at least, he considers the 

 advisability of the operation. There is the greatest dif- 

 ference of opinion as to the merits of particular styles 

 and methods of pruning, and perhaps equal difference as 



FIG. 23 RESULT OF CLOSE PLANTING AND POOR PRUNING 

 These tree heads are practically out of reach, hence spraying and thinning are 

 out of the question and harvesting so costly as to "eat up the profits." 



to the effect of the operation on the life and health of the 

 tree. Perhaps every fruit grower has observed evil effects 

 to result fiopm pruning, and many of these observers have 

 reasoned therefrom that pruning is itself injurious, or at 



* This chapter, except the parts in brackets, is the somewhat condensed answer 

 \vh : ch 1 . H. Bailey gave the Peninsular Horticultural Society to the question, "Does 

 Pruning Devitalize Plants?" 



34 



