PROPER PRUNING 



87 



excessively during its early growth. Therefore, some of the more 

 upright branches should be selected for the framework of the 

 tree during its first two years. 



In pruning for the open-headed tree the endeavor should be 

 to have from three to five scaffold limbs, evenly distributed around 

 the tree, which form a vase-shaped top with an open center. These 

 main branches should be dis- 

 tributed within a space of 10 

 or 12 inches on the trunk, 

 thus making a strong frame- 

 work for the tree. If they are 

 in a cluster, the resulting un- 

 evenness of weight is liable 

 to split the tree apart. 



Pruning one-year-old tree. 

 Most orchardists leave the 

 shaping of the young tree and 

 the selection of the scaffold 

 limbs until the first year's 

 pruning ; that is, trees set out 

 in the early spring receive 

 their first real pruning as 

 orchard trees the next March, 

 the simple heading back hav- 

 ing been done at the time of 

 planting. The trees should be 

 gone over, however, at least 

 once during the first summer 



Fig. 41. Pruning the young tree 



In the spring of its second year the young 



tree is slightly pruned ; wire screen at base, to 



protect tree against mice ravages 



(about the first of July) to remove all sucker growth from the 

 roots and all low branches growing less than 20 inches from the 

 ground. At the time of the first March pruning, it will be found 

 that from five to ten lateral branches have started from the main 

 trunk. As already stated, select from three to five of these for the 

 scaffold limbs, removing the others as close to the young trunk as 

 the cut can be made. Head back these scaffold limbs, which are 

 to form the framework of the tree, about half of their growth, leav- 

 ing them between 1 5 and 1 8 inches long. This has a tendency to in- 

 crease their diameter rapidly and thus make a strong framework. 



