THE LEMON IN CALIFORNIA — PRUNING. 193 



OPEN HORIZONTAL TRIMMING.* 



It is so called because the tree is trimmed to present this 

 form. It is a compromise between the one-deck form of the 

 perfect Baronio, and the method of allowing trees to run to 

 suckers. 



The principles of Barry, Downing, and Baronio are well 

 established, and their utility is understood by observing stu- 

 dents of horticulture. 



Trees can be trained to grow in the square, espalier, globe, 

 vase, or neglected form. The requisite is to have a definite 

 idea of the form desired and of the office the tree is to per- 

 form. We get peculiar ideas of form rather from sentiment 

 than from thought of utility or profit. We think the form we 

 have been used to seeing is the only proper one to produce, 

 hence cannot think of an apple tree trimmed on the cordon plan 

 (raising fruit on parallel limbs not two feet from the ground). 

 There was a man who thought lemon trees should be trimmed 

 up high like he had seen apple trees in New York — so that 

 horses could pass under the lowest limbs. He is now clerking 

 in a livery stable. We do not fail to trim the grape until a 

 vineyard looks like a conception of a portion of Inferno by 

 Dante and Dore. But it is the profitable way to do. We 

 sucker corn because we want ears instead of bare stalks. Why 

 not treat the lemon as commercially? It is simply a business 

 proposition to remove all the superfluous timber, and to retain 

 the bearing surfaces. It means dollars to have the tree low 

 and open, rather than so lofty that the price of the fruit is 

 consumed in traveling up and down the stepladder to get it. 



Trees arrange their forms by reason of the different methods 

 of the distribution of sap. The oak differs from the cypress 

 by reason of this unerring law. Shrubs, conifers, palms, and 

 all forms of vegetation assume their respective shapes because 

 the sap is differently disposed. Some trees, if left to themselves, 

 run all the sap to the extremities, as is the case with the peach, 

 apricot, and others, hence in their case the extremities must be 

 severely cut back, or there is a crop of dead wood in the center 

 of the tree. 



We deduce from this principle, which we have not time to 



ffiy George P. Hall, of San Diego. 



13g 



