CHAPTER V. 



LATER PRUNING. 



The ideal Pruning consists not in checking growth, but in 

 directing it. 



Before touching saw or knife to a tree, the 

 orchardist should have well in mind what he ought 

 to accomplish by the work. Among the following 

 are the chief objects sought: 



1. To restore the balance between top and roots at 

 time of setting out (as told in Chapter IV) . 



2. To make the top open-centred, 

 regulate the number of limbs com- 

 posing it, fix it at the proper height 

 from the ground, and do away with 

 weak crotches. 



3. In older trees, to remove 

 crossed branches, and thin them out 

 to admit sunlight and thus facilitate 

 spraying, ripening, etc. 



4. To induce the production of 

 fruit rather than wood, and vice 

 versa ; in other words, to correct 

 shy bearing and overbearing. 



5. To keep lower limbs out of 

 the way of cultivation, and upper 

 ones from growing out of easy reach 

 of spraying, picking, etc. 



6. To change biennial to annual bearing ; in other 

 words, to break a tree of the ' ' off year ' ' habit. 



(45) 



