THE PRINCIPLES OF PRUNING 



69 



Pruning 



THE reasons for pruning 

 may be grouped under 

 the following five headings: 

 1. To modify the vigor of 

 the plant; 2. To produce bet- 

 ter or more flowers or fruit; 

 3. To shape the plant to de- 

 sired size or form; 4. To re- 

 move imperfect or superfluous 

 wood or branches; 5. To fa- 

 cilitate cultivation. 



We may outline the results 

 of various kinds or degrees of 

 pruning to show the principle 

 followed in deciding upon a 

 certain method: (1) Severe 

 pruning of the top tends to 

 increase the production of 

 wood, and so rejuvenate weak 

 or declining plants; (2) Severe 

 pruning of the roots tends to 



lessen the production of wood and increases root fiber, and, indirectly, 

 fruitfulness. 



The natural tendency of plants is to grow from the uppermost 

 buds. By heading in (cutting off the top) the lateral, dor- 



mant buds lower down are H stimulated to develop. 



Fig. 68.— Trees three inches in caliper and 



over should be guyed with wires in three 



directions. The wires should pass through 



pieces of hose where they touch the tree 



Fig. 69.— Dynamite can be used to simplify the digging of holes and to loosen a stiff sub- 

 soil and improve drainage conditions. In this sketch (A) is the cracked and loosened sub- 

 soil; (B) the broken subsoil dug out, enriched, if possible, with well rotted manure, and 

 replaced; (C) the topsoil firmed in around the roots; and (D) either top or subsoil loosely 

 filled in and kept loose 



