CHAPTER XI 

 PRUNING MATURE TREES 



When the principles of pruning (Chapter V) have been 

 properly applied in the education of young trees as de- 

 scribed in Chapter X, the mature trees will, barring ac- 

 cidents, need very little annual attention a mere re- 

 minder now and then of their training and purpose in life. 

 From the time they come into bearing the pruner should 

 expend his energy for sawing, hacking and whittling up- 

 on some friendly wood pile where he will do no harm to 

 his fruit crop prospects and the well-being of his trees. 

 For the trees can be thrown out of bearing very easily by 

 injudicious pruning. They 

 may even be made to produce 

 brush without fruit when 

 erroneous pruning is extensive 

 enough and continues from 

 year to year. 



192. Bearing habit dictates 

 style of pruning. As already 

 noted (56), fruit trees bear 

 their fruit buds in two general 

 ways laterally, as in the 

 peach ; and terminally, as in the 

 apple. There are many excep- 

 tions where various varieties 

 bear both ways, but the rule is 

 as stated. Naturally the trees 

 which produce fruit from lat- 

 eral (axillary) buds, set more 

 buds and will stand more prun- 

 ing of the smaller branches 

 than will the other kind, be- 



241 



FIG. 201. INVITING DISASTER. 

 This shows how not to cut a 

 limb. A stub is always a menace 

 because decay is sure to enter. 



