THE ART OF PRUNING 



The Use and 

 Abuse of 

 "Heading-in" 



A plant is "headed-in" when the terminal growths of its branches 

 are taken off. Heading-in makes the top of a tree thicker and 

 broader. In American climates this form of prun- 

 ing is practised only with peaches and some plums, 

 and is but little needed with other fruits. 



Peaches and some plums bear fruit on the wood 

 of the past season. The crop is borne progressively away from the 

 trunk. It is necessary to head-in these fruits to keep the bearing 

 wood near the trunk. Apples, pears, most plums, and cherries are 

 borne on spurs from wood two or more years old and, therefore, 

 with these, heading-in need not be a regular practice. 



When the top of a tree contains dead or dying 



Prune for Wood 

 to Insure Vigor 



branches, or when the seasonal growth is short and 

 scant, it may be taken for granted that the tree 

 lacks A'igor or, in old trees, is passing into decrepitude. Such trees 

 may be rejuvenated by judicious pruning. In professional terms, they 

 must be "pruned for wood." Such pruning consists in cutting back a 

 considerable number of branches and in wholly removing others. 



Pruning to increase vigor is based upon the fact that the develop- 

 ment of leaves and shoots — vegetative activity — is dependent upon a 

 constant supply of the soluble nutriment — the sap. Therefore, when 

 the size of the tree-top is diminished, the remainder grows more. 



When trees are enfeebled by age, injured by insects or fungi» 

 or neglected in any way, there is 

 nothing that will more quickly 

 stimulate them and renew their 

 youthful vigor than conservative 

 surgery. Such pruning should 

 usually be extended over two or 

 more years. 



In pruning for wood, the fol- 

 lowing rules must invariably be 

 observed : 



Weak-growing varieties should 

 be pruned generously; strong- 

 growing kinds, lightly. 



Varieties which branch freely 

 need little pruning; those having 

 unbranching limbs should be 

 pruned closely. 



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Be sure to have good pruning tools 



