90 THE AMERICAN APPLE ORCHARD 



performance of the orchard uniform. While the best 

 fruit growers are undoubtedly making progress in this 

 direction, it cannot be said that the theory has yet been 

 brought to such a system of practice as to make it 

 vv^orkable for everybody. 



THE TIME TO PRUNE 



The best time to prune has always been a very popu- 

 lar matter of dispute. The mere fact that the question 

 is still open indicates plainly that no simple answer will 

 cover the ground. It is an old saying that "the time 

 to prune is when the saw is sharp," and this proverb 

 is fair to the extent that pruning may safely be done, 

 imder certain circumstances, at any season of the year. 

 As a matter of practice, however, it is better to fix 

 two annual seasons as specially suited to this work. 

 The first of these is the dormant period, say between 

 November i and April i. The other is at the height 

 of the growing season, which in the northeastern states 

 would be the first two weeks of June. 



The most important difference in result between 

 summer and winter pruning lies in the physiological 

 effect. Winter pruning has a tendency to promote 

 wood growth, including the formation of water 

 sprouts, and correspondingly to check the production 

 of fruit buds. Summer pruning has the opposite 

 tendency, promoting the formation of fruit buds and 

 checking wood growth. While the results in these 

 ways may be very marked at times, they are not usu- 

 ally so conspicuous as to give the fruit grower great 

 concern. 



Winter pruning has certain practical advantages — 

 SO has summer pruning. There is usually more time 



