140 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF PLANTS 



purposely done in varieties producing weak shoots), the pres- 

 sure of sap may be so considerable in the following spring 

 that all buds grow out into long woody shoots. In this case 

 the tree would be pruned for the production of wood. 



§ 28. What is the effect of the different methods of pruning ? 



It is not the function of this book to discuss the methods 

 by which a tree is forced to assume a certain shape ; that is a 

 pure technicality of arboriculture. We must, however, touch 

 upon the consequences which the use of the pruning-knife 

 entail to the various parts of the tree. The method of 

 obtaining trees of definite shapes depends upon a succession 

 of prunings carried out with a very definite aim. We need 

 not, however, conceal our opinion that this endeavour to force 

 a tree to assume a shape which is contrary to the natural 

 habit of branching has no horticultural value, and only results 

 in the production of a curiosity. This method of culture 

 condemns itself, because the best-formed trees usually produce 

 the least fruit. The advantages which the so-called French 

 method of culture is supposed to have, namely, the faculty of 

 making most use of the smallest available space and the 

 production of especially good fruits, are reached with greater 

 certainty if the tree is allowed more liberty to develop its 

 natural shape. This is the case in the cultivation of dwarf 

 varieties. The pui-pose of these dwarf trees is also to produce 

 the most beautiful fruits in a small space. By cultivating 

 a dwarfed stem, the crown of the tree is brought low enough 

 for a more careful inspection and treatment, and in both cases 

 the production of large fruits is attained by the reduction of 

 the total number. 



One of the chief methods of treatment of fruit-trees, espe- 

 cially of pears and apples, is to cut a branch off 4 or 5 inches 

 above the bud of which the development is desired. Suppos- 

 ing this bud is to replace the main shoot as leader, all the 

 buds above it are removed, and the eyeless upper portion of 

 the shoot is made use of for fiastening the tree to the wall. 

 Probably in this case the food material contained in this 



