PRUNING 91 



in winter, most men are better used to this kind of 

 pruning-, the debris can be more conveniently removed 

 and burned, it is easier to paint over the wounds. On 

 the other hand wounds heal better, if made in early- 

 summer, it is easier to detect the presence of dead or 

 diseased branches, some waste of growth is saved, and 

 the physiological effect on the tree may be more sat- 

 isfactory. 



It is probably true that the adoption of a system, of 

 summer pruning would be a distinct improvement in 

 orchard practice in a majority of our leading apple 

 plantations. 



PAINTING WOUNDS. 



After long discussion and experiment, fruit growers 

 have almost universally decided that the best covering 

 for wounds is a heavy coating of thick white-lead 

 paint. The addition of some neutral color to the white 

 lead is advisable. It is proper to reiterate in this con- 

 nection that large wounds are to be avoided wherever 

 possible. 



PRUNING TOOLS 



The best pruning tools arc the hand shears. The 

 style commonly called grape shears are especially ad- 

 vised ; and if these are used everywhere with suffi- 

 cient promptness' and judgment there will be much less 

 call for larger and heavier tools. 



The next tool to be recommended is the long- 

 handled or extension shears, made on handles of 4, 6, 

 8 and 10 feet in length and shown on page 92. These 

 are indispensable in ordinary pruning. Heavier shears 



