Pruning. 261 



111 piuiiing to form an open head (Fig. 162), it is 

 wiser, as a rule, to thin out the smaller branches at 

 some distance from the trunk than to remove large 

 branches at their union with the trunk. The clearer 

 the atmosphere in a given locality, the less thinning 

 of the top is required to produce the inaximum number 

 of fruit buds (243). 



Fig. 161. Unpruned apple tree, with head too dense to admit li^ht. 



426. Pruning for Strength, a — of the Trunk. Trees 

 and plants grown in closely-planted nursery rows often 

 have trunks insufficiently developed to support the 

 head, when planted b.y themselves. To remedy this de- 

 feet, we promote the formation of new vascular bun- 



