CHAPTER XXVI 



MAKING FEUIT TBEES BEAK 



" TF one side of a tree is pruned very short and 

 A the other very long, the natural course of the 

 sap is to some extent diverted from the first side to- 

 ward the second, which is richer in buds and con- 

 sequently in foliage. We have just seen how this 

 principle is utilized to check the growth of too vig- 

 orous a part in order to stimulate that of one that 

 is too feeble and thus redress the balance between 

 the two. But what would be the result if the whole 

 tree were pruned at once? 



"Let us first see what takes place in a single 

 branch. Pruned long, it preserves the greater part 

 of its buds, all of which call for nourishment from 

 the sap flowing in that direction; pruned short, it 

 keeps only a few buds, which having the sap of the 

 entire branch at their disposal, will receive each a 

 supply that is superabundant in proportion to the 

 fewness of the buds. For example, what twelve 

 would ordinarily have had for consumption, two or 

 three will now have to themselves; and because of 

 this superabundance of nourishment each bud will 

 develop much more vigorously than it would other- 

 wise have done. Hence if the whole tree is pruned 

 with an unsparing hand, all the sap drawn from the 



124 



