PRUNING 85 



BaiLy has summarily convicted them of larceny and 

 has sentenced them to be cut and burned. While these 

 water sprouts usually ought to be removed at the ear- 

 liest possible moment — that is, before they get to be a 

 foot long — they are not always so objectionable. They 

 represent a legitimate effort on the part of the tree to 

 renew its framework. In almost every old untended 

 tree may be found young lusty fruiting branches easily 

 recognizable as quondam water sprouts. A strong, 

 favorably located water sprout often gives the very 

 material needed for renewing a portion of an old tree. 



THE FRUITING STAGE 



A Standard apple tree should come into bearing at 

 four to nine years from planting, and should continue 

 to produce profitable crops anywhere from 10 to 100 

 years. During this period the work of pruning is 

 directed simply toward maintaining a permanent con- 

 dition of frpitfulness. There are five principal consid- 

 erations to be kept in mind. These are : 



1. To keep up a supply of fruiting wood, well 

 furnished with fruit spurs. 



2. To secure an annual setting of vigorous blos- 

 som buds. 



3. To maintain the size of the tree, so it will 

 occupy the full space allotted to it and yet not crowd 

 its neighbors. 



4. To keep the head sufficiently open. 



5. To remove diseased and broken parts. 



Let us look at these five problems in order. When 

 dwarf trees are grown in special forms, as they are in 

 the old country, the supply of fruiting wood and of 

 fruit spurs is kept up by very definite methods of prun- 

 ing. As we practice fruit growing in this country on 



