36 FIELD NOTES ON APPLE CULTURE. 



In other words, I should remove every limb which 

 ought to be removed, large or small. But it is a sign 

 of a good orcbardist if the unnecessary large branches 

 are few or none. 



FORMS OF TREES. 



The idea is still current, as a result of old teachings, 

 that some form of top for all the trees of an orchard 

 must be decided upon before one enters upon the import- 

 ant duties of pruning and training. This shape, to 

 which everything must be made to conform, may be the 

 "hollow top," the "umbrella shaped," the conical, or 

 the broad and flat headed. Whatever this uniform shape 

 may be, it is at variance with nature, and does not rec- 

 ognize the peculiar and distinguishing forms of different 

 varieties. It is by no means necessary that all the trees 

 of an orchard should be trimmed into one form. A vari- 

 ety in the forms will heighten rather than decrease the 

 beauty of an orchard. But an orchard is not supposed 

 to be trained for beauty. The training must have for its 

 object the production of more and better fruit, and the 

 prolonging of the life of the tree. The best rule for 

 shaping a tree — if a general direction may be called a 

 rule — might be worded something like this : Let the 

 top take its natural shape, keep it symmetrical, and cut 

 out all interfering limbs. The Khode Island Greening 

 should be allowed to make its natural broad and flat 

 head ; in fact, it cannot well be made to take any other 

 form. The strict and conical head of the Northern Spy 

 should not be malformed. Under a proper and careful 

 thinning out of some of the minor branches each year, 



