FRUITS FOR THE HOME GROUNDS 



Pruning 

 for Fruit 



In cool, damp climates, trees run to wood and need little pruning; 

 in hot, dry climates, they need much pruning. 



Rich, deep soils favor growth; prune trees in such soils lightly, 

 so that growth is not stimulated excessively. In shallow, sandy soils, 

 trees produce short shoots; the wood should be closely cut. 



A barren tree can sometimes be made to bear fruit by 

 proper pruning. Not infrequently barrenness is 

 caused by over-manuring or over-stimulation of some 

 kind, because of which the number of shoots and leaves are greatly 

 increased, but flower-buds do not form. This over-production of wood 

 and leaf can sometimes be stopped by breaking or cutting off the 

 greater portion of the season's growth in late summer. 



Summer-pruning must be done when the elongation of shoots has 

 ceased for the season. If the tree is pruned too early the shoots cut 

 back start growth and the operation has been useless. On the other 

 hand, if the pruning is done too late there is not sufficient time to 

 enable the food material to accumulate for the proper production of 

 fruit-buds. 



In America's inequable climate it is very difEcult to practise 

 summer-pruning successfully, and it is probably best, instead of cut- 

 ting off the ends of the young shoots, to break them off and let them 

 hang, cutting them in the winter. 



p . A knife, a saw, and a pair of shears is the smallest 



Paraphernalia possible equipment for tree-fruits, and to these must 

 be added ladders for large trees. The cutting edges 

 of all tools must be keen, so as to leave a clean, smooth cut that will 

 heal quickly. Only a sloven will prune with a rusty tool. 



Newly snt 2-year 



Apple ready to he 



pruned 



Slime Apple tree 

 pruned 



Newly set. Peach 

 ready to be 

 pruned 



Same Peaeh pruned. 

 Prune 1-year Apple 

 same way 



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