Pruning Mature Trees 135 



by the treatment that the young tree receives; but a little 

 judicious heading-in of the old tree, taking care to cut 

 to outside buds or branches, will improve an undesirable 

 form. Too often the tree is allowed to grow at will until 

 it is out of reach, and then in a fit of desperation the grower 

 resorts to such a system of heading-in as is shown in Fig- 

 ure 45. This system may be correct for the lawn hedge, 

 but it is not well adapted to the pear, as is shown by -Figure 

 46, the same tree one year later. By the time the pruner 

 gets through with this tree he will have decided that it is 

 poor policy to head-in pear trees. Had the pear tree been 

 properly headed-in, the result would have been different. 

 It is only reasonable to suppose that leaving stubs of large 

 limbs which bear numerous fruit-spurs will result in rank 

 new growth from these spurs, especially in an off-year, 

 when the spurs carry a large proportion of branch-buds. 

 When it becomes necessary to head in the large pear trees, 

 always cut to side limbs, and do not make the mistake of 

 choosing an off-year to do this severe pruning; a heavy 

 crop tends to check rampant growth encouraged by vigor- 

 ous pruning. 



While some growers really believe that the pear tree will 

 not stand pruning, we know of no variety to which mod- 

 erate pruning is detrimental. On the other hand, there are 

 varieties that require severe pruning. In spite of the fact 

 that the Anjou pear is a favorite on the market, many a 

 grower will not consider the planting of this variety. Yet 

 a few of its more forbearing admirers have demonstrated 

 that its one bad fault (tardy bearing) may be overcome by 

 proper pruning. The young tree blooms freely and ap- 

 parently sets very well, but before the fruits reach any 



