The Pruning of Trees 



directly after the fading of the flowers. The energies of bud 

 formation are thus concentrated on the branches that remain. 



Dwarf forms of trees are kept in trim by pruning the roots 

 with a sharp spade, and by "heading in" the branches severely. 

 Shearing keeps a tree in formal shape. Weeping trees and others 

 of peculiar habits are trimmed to preserve their characteristics. 



In all ornamental trees care must be taken to cut off shoots 

 that start below the bud or graft. The stock is of a different 

 kind, and these low shoots therefore introduce a false note into 

 the top grown from the cion or bud. 



PRUNING EVERGREENS 



The best form a conifer can have is its natural, pyramidal 

 one, tapering to the sky. The end bud, or leader, should never 

 be cut. When this is destroyed the central shaft branches, and 

 the tree's beauty gives place to oddity. The lower limbs of 

 evergreens should lie upon the ground, if they can be kept green 

 and healthy. Spruces especially hold these branches late. If 

 limbs are sparse, pinching out terminal buds on the lateral branches 

 will force out new shoots from side buds, soon producing a compact 

 dome of foliage. Symmetry should be preserved by heading in 

 wayward branches. Formal shapes are produced by clipping and 

 shearing. Evergreens generally have resinous sap which covers 

 wounds. Such need no paint to prevent inoculation by fungous 

 diseases while healing. 



PRUNING FRUIT TREES 



This is a very large and special subject. Methods depend 

 upon the aims of the owners. While the trees are young they 

 are pruned to shape and thinned to induce vigour. As fruiting age 

 comes on they are checked by heading back terminal buds. 

 This diverts the tree's forces from wood production to fruiting. 

 If the best fruit is desired, thinning of twigs and especially of 

 fruit clusters while green is practised. 



Pruning is an annual practice with the best fruit growers. 

 A fruit tree left to its own devices for years produces firewood. 

 The severe pruning that follows this neglect produces a forest of 

 "water sprouts" or "suckers" the next year. It takes a long 

 time to get such a tree checked and back into bearing. 



510 



