GENERAL NOTES ON PRUNING. 



35 



the ordinary small hand pruning shears and a pruning 

 knife. I can work much faster and with less fatigue by 

 getting into the tree with saw and shears, than I can by 

 standing on the ground and using patent pruning tools. 

 Of course I am now speaking of pruning an orchard. 

 Upon isolated shade or ornamental trees the long-handled 

 tools are convenient. I do not like heavy ladders. If 

 step ladders are used, they should be very light. The 

 best ladder is made of three rounds. This is long enough 

 to enable one to get into the tree, or the legs can be 

 crossed about the top round, as in figure 3, if one must 

 reach a limb where there is no support for the ladder. 

 This simple ladder is in use among grafters. 



Branches which are parallel with stronger horizontal 



Owmwwfflsu n limbs should be removed. If 

 Wm^^^ 11 ^^^ limbs rub, one should be 

 cut out. The vigilant orchard- 

 ist will cut out unnecessary 

 limbs before they get large and 

 troublesome. It is often said 

 that one should never use any 

 other tool than a knife in prun- 

 ing an orchard ; that every un- 

 necessary limb should be cut 

 before it is large enough to de- 

 mand a saw. This condition 

 of things is certainly a desirable 

 Fig. 3.-A SHORT LADDER, cousummation, but I do not be- 

 lieve that it can be done, unless the operator has little else 

 on his liands than a hundred apple trees. I should not 

 limit my pruning by the size of the limbs to be cut, 



