20 



All roots should be trimmed, but not cut short ; only the extremities should 

 be cut where jagged by the spade in digging up. Cut out any bruised, broken, or 

 damaged roots, and sliorten in any long ones before planting. Figure 6 shows 

 how a " whip " should be pruned when planting. Should a tree have all its shoots 

 bunched up together, then every shoot except the centre one should be removed 

 and the young tree cut as in Figiu'e 5, " b." These trees can then be formed 

 in the following winter. The following winter, which is considered the first 

 pruning (the tree now being one year old from planting), the tree is again 

 pruned hard, about Gin. to 9in. being left, and the arms being thrown as wide as 

 possible. In wide-growing varieties obtain forks where possible, but do not fork 

 vipright growers until the second year's pruning, otherwise the base of the tree is 

 too eramjaed. Narrow-growing trees can often be spread by cutting out the 

 leaders to an outside lateral and throwing the growth into the lateral. Figure 7 

 illustrates the first year's pruning of a well-forked tree. 



Fig. 7. 

 First rear 's pruning of a young tree. 



In the second year's pruning the trees are again pruned hard, about nine 

 inches to one foot being left, and a well-placed fork being obtained on each of last 

 year's pruning, which will give from six to eight or more leaders, according to 

 variety and growth of the tree. Remove all but a few laterals from the inside 

 of the tree ; also thin out any excess of laterals on the outside of the limbs and 

 slightljr shorten back those left. 



In the third winter's pruning, prune fairly hard, leaving up to 18 inches on 

 each leader, and obtaining a well-placed fork on each, which will now give from 

 12 to 16 leaders. 



Practically all trees are treated in this manner for the first three years so as 

 to obtain a strong open framework. Some varieties, such as the apricot and 

 various plums and prunes, are improved by summer pruning ; but each of these will 

 be treated under its own heading. 



