stem is cut back to the topmost branch saved, a half to 

 two-thirds of it is cut away — ^another seeming great sacri- 

 fice of wood which is, nevertheless, essentia to success. 

 For fruit trees to be grown on the lawn or in the garden, 

 the "low" head is usually not desired. Therefore, the 

 limb selected to form the future head of the tree need be 

 only from two to three feet from the ground. The 

 second method of pruning is adapted for two or three 

 year old plants which, when received from the nursery, 

 have good limbs from which to select those which are 

 to be saved. 



Early in the spring the year after planting, the second 

 pruning should be given. In the case of trees that were 

 cut back to whips (by the first method described above) 

 select four to six of the best branches to form the future 

 head, keeping in mind the points mentioned in the pre- 

 ceding paragraph. In the case of trees pruned by the 

 second method, — i. e., to begin to form the head at once, 

 — prune back the following spring one half of the new 

 growth on the branches left before, and from two to four 

 eyes on the side shoots. Remove back clean to the main 

 stem all surplus branches that are not wanted. 



The third annual pruning for the trees that were 

 trimmed back to a whip, is to precede in the same man- 

 ner as during the second pruning for trees that were 

 trimmed to a head when set, as described in the pre- 

 ceding paragraph. 



If the pruning for the first two or three seasons is 

 done thoroughly, little pruning will be required there- 

 after. Cut back from a third to a half of the new growth 

 each year, avoid making crotches; cut out intersecting 

 limbs; and save laterals or branches that will tend to 

 the formation or shape of the tree desired, according 

 to the general principles discussed under the head "How 

 to Prune." 



PRUNING TO RE-FORM OLD TREES: In the 

 case of old trees, or fairly young trees that have been 

 neglected, it is often necessary literally to cut away 

 the whole top of the tree. The mistake is often made of 

 trying to do this all at one pruning. The correct method 

 is to cut away at first all the new young growth and 

 sprouts except the comparatively few selected to make 



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