114 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



pruning during the dormant season than after pruning in 

 summer. 



When pruning merely checks wood production without 

 noticeably reducing the strength of the pruned plant, it usu- 

 ally favors fruit bearing; hence the value of summer prun- 

 ing of whatever kind, but especially the shortening of ex- 

 cessive annual growths. The best time to do this is when 

 the moisture in the soil becomes somewhat reduced in early 

 summer, but after the twigs have attained their full length. 

 If done then the probability is that the remaining buds will 

 have -enough time to fill with food and yet not have suffi- 

 cient time to develop lateral shoots. In actual practice no 

 set rule can yet be laid down, certainly not one based upon 

 a mere date, nor can any set rule be given for the amount 

 of summer pruning that may be done with safety. Even 

 trees may be summer-pruned so severely that they will die ! 



The only safe guide is personal experience based upon 

 such factors as climate, character of soil, species, variety, 

 and even upon the behavior of the individual plant. Even 

 then the newness of the practice so far as the individual 

 plant is concerned will influence the judgment in one di- 

 rection, whereas the accustomedncss of the plant, if I may 

 coin a word, will influence in perhaps the opposite direction. 

 Plants accustomed to a certain style of handling from the 

 start will perhaps stand more, though they may not need 

 more pruning than those new to the practice. In general, 

 plants trained in special forms give best results when sum- 

 mer pinched or pruned. 



Generally neither fruit buds nor fruit spurs are formed 

 on the pinched parts the same seasons as the pinching is 

 done. When the summer shortening-in is done early enough 

 for this there is increased risk of getting undesirable lateral 

 growths. If the operation is performed after the leaves 

 have reduced their activity, these growths will rarely occur. 

 During recent years considerable study of bud formation 

 has been made, but so far the conclusions have brought forth 



