292 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 
two large limbs had been girdled last year, and these 
limbs were bending with fruit whilst the remaining 
branches and the adjacent trees were barren.  Gir- 
dling may generally be done with safety in spring, 
when the leaves are putting out. A ring of bark two 
or three inches wide may be removed clear to the 
wood, and entirely encircling the limb. I have heard 
of excellent results following the simple ringing of 
trees, which consists in severing the bark—but remov- 
ing none of it—completely around the tree with a 
sharp knife, in spring. These are, of course, only 
incidental operations, to be employed with caution, 
and then only upon branches of less importance. 
Their value is wholly one of experiment, to aid the 
owner in determining what fundamental treatment the 
orchard probably needs.” * 
Pruning and heading-in.—The subject of pruning 
cannot be understood until the fundamental principles 
of the practice are clearly apprehended. It is, there- 
fore, well-nigh uscless to state any general rules or 
precepts for the pruning of trees in a work like the 
present. It is only necessary to say that a heavy 
pruning upsets the habit of the tree, and generally 
sets it into the heavy production of wood for a time. 
The only proper pruning is one which is applied in 
something lke the same proportion every year, and 
which begins the very year in which the plants are 
put into the ground. Trees which are alternately 
neglected and heavily pruned are kept in a condition 
*Bull. 102, Cornell Exp. Sta., 519 (Oct., 1895). A fuller discussion of ring- 
ing may be found in “The Pruning-Book.” 
