128 Times for Pruning. 
Removing such wood and training new wood to take its place 
should always be in mind. 
Where cutting of large branches is demanded for any rea- 
son it should be remembered that the wounds are most quickly 
healed and least injury to the tree is to be apprehended if the 
cutting is done near the beginning of the growing season. 
TIMES FOR PRUNING. 
Some changes of view have lately prevailed as to the 
times, within the dormant period, during which winter-pruning 
can be done to the best advantage. Formerly it was thought to 
be a vital matter that no cutting should he done until the leaves 
had fallen, and this is still the prevailing practise, and may prove 
to be on all accounts the best. Recently, however, pruning 
in autumn has been quite widely practised. 
Fall Pruning.—There is a time near the end of the active 
season in California when the foliage changes its aspect. There 
is no marked change in color, perhaps, but there is a certain 
limpness and drooping which betokens decided decline in activ- 
ity. It comes first to the early fruits, the cherries and apricots, 
for instance, and upon old trees earlier than young ones. The 
buds are weli formed; the season's growth apparently complete. 
There are no frosts to hasten the fall of the leaf and it remains 
in place. Does it render any important service? On the con- 
clusion that it does not, many growers begin the winter pruning 
while the days are longer and ground dry and firm rather 
than delay pruning until the short, dark days and rain-soaked 
soil of December and January render pruning expensive and 
disagreeable. Those trees are first pruned which first assume the 
appearance described, and the work proceeds with other varie- 
ties afterwards until the winter pruning is finished by December 
1—about the time when it commonly began under the old prac- 
tise. Not only is more thus accomplished in the same number 
of days’ work, but the orchard is earlier in shape for the winter 
spraying and cultivation, and the grower is ahead of his work 
and not behind it all the season if the season is unusually rainy. 
Several years’ practise of this method discloses no bad results 
except in the one item of increasing danger from frost. Vines 
and trees pruned early in the dormant period have a tendency 
to start growth earlier than those pruned late in the dormant 
period. In places, then, where early bloom and fruit-setting are 
particularly threatened by irost, this practise may be undesirable. 
The method is rather new and not widely tried and awaits fuller 
demonstration of its standing. 
Spring Prunng.—Resting largely upon this matter of re- 
tarding growth, the practise of pruning very late in the dormant 
