42 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OK PRUNING 



this top, there is an endeavor to supply the deficiency by 

 an exceedingly rapid growth. So pruned plants are 

 nearly always more vigorous than unpruned ones, be- 

 cause of the concentration of a somewhat constant food 

 supply into a smaller number of branches. Therefore, 

 pruning must have much the same effect as manuring. 



The stimulating effect of this new growth, or new dis- 

 position of energy, must be felt upon the root system 



also; and it is a point 

 for discussion as to 

 whether this stimulus 

 and response to new 

 conditions may not be 

 greater when the prun- 

 ing is somewhat heroic 

 than when it is so 

 evenly distributed over 

 the lifetime of the tree 

 as to be imperceptible. 

 Growth is certainly 

 more emphatic follow- 

 ing a heroic pruning. 

 _ but its total may not be 



^ greater than that which 



follows several prun- 

 ings of equal aggregate 

 severity. 



My own observation 

 and experience lead me 

 to believe that annual 

 pruning of all fruit 

 trees is desirable, but T 



am equally convinced that to cut out all the superfluous 

 twigs at each pruning does not pay, either in cost of 

 pruning or in good to the tree. These superfluous twigs 

 may often be left with advantage until they are two or 

 three or even four years old. Although stimulating 



FIG. 28 HOW BRANCHES ARE BURIED 



1, Dead twig healed in; 2, twig dead at 

 tip being healed in; 3, twig with decayed 

 pith being healed in; 4, dead twig completely 

 healed in; 5, two branches healed in, one 

 pointing left, vigorous when cut, one pointing 

 up dead part way out; 6, "eyes" where oblique 

 limbs started from main trunk. 



