EXERCISE XXII 



PRUNING 



Material and apparatus. Small orchard; pruning-saw, pruning- 

 knife, priming-shears, long-handled pruner. 



After the student has become thoroughly familiar with the 

 different kinds of buds of the several fruits and is able to dis- 

 tinguish a fruit bud from a branch bud, or a fruit spur from a 

 leaf spur, several exercises should be given in the general prac- 

 tice of pruning. It is advisable to have at least one exercise 

 each on the pruning of the apple, the cherry, the peach, and the 

 grape. Study carefully each kind of plant pruned. Discuss fully 

 what is the essential thing for which to look. Discuss the differ- 

 ences between the fruit bud and the branch bud as seen from 

 your practice in pruning. Discuss fully what kind of a cut 

 should be made in every case. Discuss why it is essential, when 

 cutting a large limb, to make a cut first on the underside. Dis- 

 cuss why the peach must be pruned differently from the apple. 

 Tell why the grape should be pruned back to three or four buds. 

 On what age of wood are the fruit buds of the peach, the pear, 

 the grape, and the cherry usually found. Compare several of the 

 different kinds of pruning-saws. Give the advantages and the 

 disadvantages of each. Tell where the pruning-shears should be 

 used and where they should not be used. 



REFERENCES : 



Bailey, " The Pruning Book," chap. iv. 



Farmers' Bulletin No. 181, United States Department of Agriculture. 

 Paddock and Whipple, " Fruit Growing in Arid Regions," pp. 81-100. 

 Thomas, '* The American Fruit Culturist," chap. vii. 



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