264 Principles of Plant Culture. 



427. a — Fruning for Growth may be performed, (a) 

 By removing a part of the branches, thus reducing the 

 number of growing points and the surface exposed to 

 evaporation. Plants that are not making satisfactory 

 growth through feeble root action, may often be in- 

 vigorated by this treatment, which is especially useful 

 in trees recently transplanted or weakened by over- 

 bearing. 



(b) By suppressing reproduction. When growth is 

 desired, it is often advisable to prevent the develop- 

 ment of flowers. Newly planted strawberry, raspberry 

 and blackberry plants usually make better growth the 

 first season if the flower-buds are picked off. The re- 

 moval of flowers in the potato plant tends to stimulate 

 the growth of tubers, especially in varieties that form 

 seed. The removal of flower-buds from cuttings in the 

 propagating bed encourages the formation of roo.s. 

 Topping tobacco and rhubarb plants (416 c) causes 

 the leaves to grow larger, and in onion plants stimu- 

 lates growth of the bulbs. De-tasseling corn encourages 

 growth of the ears (416 d). Thinning fruit on plants 

 that incline to overbear, causes the remaining fruits 

 to grow larger (416 i, 159). 



428. b — Pruning for Flowers or Fruit. Since check- 

 ing growth tends to stimulate the formation of flower- 

 buds (134 b), we encourage flowering in plants that in- 

 cline to luxuriant growth, by pruning which tends to 

 check vigor. This may be accomplished, 



(a) By pinching the terminal buds during the 

 growth period, as is often practiced upon tardy-bearing 

 fruit trees or upon seedling fruit ti'ei'S of which it is 



