CHAPTER X 



PRUNING YOUNG TREES* 



153. Disappointments attributed to pruning.! Many 

 orchardists growing young trees have been disappointed 

 with the results obtained from pruning. While these dis- 

 appointments may be due, on the one hand, to a lack of 

 knowledge of fundamental principles which underly prun- 

 ing, on the other hand, we believe much of the dissatis- 

 faction is because the grower has expected too much from 



pruning alone, and has 

 failed to realize the im- 

 portance of other or- 

 chard practices irriga- 

 tion, tillage, mainten- 

 ance of soil fertility, 

 etc. 



No matter how skill- 

 fully we prune for 

 fruitfulness, unless we 

 have such soil condi- 

 tions as to furnish suffi- 

 cient food and moisture 

 at the right time to de- 

 velop good, strong 

 buds, we cannot expect 

 to secure satisfactory 

 results. Again, we 

 must realize that soil. 



FIG. 145 BADLY FORMED TREE HEAD 

 Never start the main limbs in this manner. 

 They should issue in a spiral whorl with 4 to 

 12 or 15 inches between one limb and the 

 next one above. Such an arrangement will 

 prevent bad crotches and will greatly 

 strengthen the tree. 



* Paragraphs 153 to 177 have been somewhat condensed from the article by 

 Professor C. I. Lewis in Bulletin No. 130, of the Oregon Experiment Station. With 

 slight modifications, indicated in brackets or cross referenced to other parts of this 

 volume by the present author, the methods apply to a very considerable area of the 

 United States and Canada. 



t As noted in paragraph 172 the directions given in paragraphs 153 to 172 apply- 

 chiefly to apple pruning, but also to all deciduous fruits and nuts. Specific direc- 

 tions for these other fruits are in paragraphs 173 to 177. 



186 



