I<ATKR PRUNING 



49 



off any suckers which may grow from base of trunk. 



Do this at any time. 



When cutting- off fair-size limbs, saw the underside 



of the limb about one-third of the way 



through, or till the saw begins to pinch, 



and then saw on top about one-half inch 



from the undercut; and when sawed 



down almost to the undercut the limb 



will break off and not peel FIQ m 

 down the side of the tree. CUT NOT so 

 (See illustrations, Figs. Ill and IV.) 

 Then continue the top cut so as to leave 

 no stub. 



Root-pruning is sometimes practised, 

 the object being to check the growth of 



a vigorous tree (which is old enough to bear, but 



which refuses to do so) , and thus favor the develop- 

 ment of fruit buds. This operation is seldom neces- 

 sary, however, and few orchardists ever attempt it 

 Pruning a neglected old orchard is 



often a puzzling job. To do the work 



right, a vast amount of wood must 



come off, and, consequently, the average 



pruner is likely to remove too much, 



thus doing more harm than good. 



Here's a good rule for such cases : Do 



the job in three installments one 



each year and no installment unduly 



heavy. 



Keep all pruning tools sharp. Prune annually but 



not heavily. Never allow stock to prune your trees. 



Heavy pruning conduces to wood growth. 



THIS MAN IS 



MAKING THE 



MISTAKE OF 



LEAVING A STUB 



