THE APPLE 



If the scaffold limbs are allowed to remain unpruned, they will 

 become long and willowy and will be easily broken with the 

 first heavy crop of fruit. The cutting back of the scaffold limbs 

 induces the growth of lateral buds, which form branches and help 

 to produce a stalky young tree. In heading back these branches 



the orchardist should cut 

 back to the buds which 

 point in the general direc- 

 tion he wishes the branch 

 to take. The proper start- 

 ing of the young trees 

 at this time will largely 

 do away with the need 

 of props in the future 

 orchard. 



In pruning an upright- 

 growing tree so that it 

 will spread more than it 

 would naturally, the pruner 

 should cut to the outside 

 buds and branches. The 

 reverse should be done if 

 one wishes to correct the 

 sprawling, spreading habit 

 of certain varieties and 

 cause them to grow more 

 upright. 



Second-year pruning. 

 This season's pruning is 

 similar to the first year's. 

 Remove all the side 

 branches that have started from the scaffold limbs except two or 

 three of the strongest laterals. Care should be taken to select not 

 only strong, vigorous lateral growths, but those which will make 

 the tree well shaped and symmetrically balanced. If possible, 

 select laterals that are distributed along the scaffold limbs rather 

 than those that come out in a crotch, for the latter are more likely 

 to break down under heavy stress. It is also essential to avoid 



Fig. 42. Northern Spy 



An ideal young tree in its second summer from 

 setting 



