RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE. 37 



CHAPTEK VII. 



PRl'NING FRLIT TREES. 



THE question whether fruit trees should be pruned in the 

 season in which they are planted — before they begin to 

 grow in their new positions — is one which has been 

 answered differently by different authorities. In order to throw 

 some light on it, a series of experiments with Apples was 

 planned two or three years ago, and carried out at the Royal 

 Horticultural Society's Gardens at Wisley. The general conclu- 

 sion arrived at was that " all Apples grow better in the first 

 season, if they are pruned in the season of planting, than if they 

 are left unpruned, and that the check imposed by neglect of 

 pruning is felt by trees on the Paradise stock for at least three 

 years after planting, while trees on the Crab stock appear to 

 recover more quickly." The advantage of immediate prun- 

 ing is what reason would lead us to expect. When a tree 

 is moved it has to make a fresh start with fresh roots, and as 

 these fresh roots must at first provide a smaller quantity of 

 food materials than before the disturbance, the various 

 branches, imless they are reduced in number or in length, 

 must get an insufficient supply. It follows that Apples and 

 Pears should be pruned soon after they are planted — at any 

 rate, before the following March. 



THE OBJECT OF PRUNING. . 



But before the knife is taken in hand, it is necessary 

 to understand clearly the object to be kept in view. If there 

 is any doubt, it is far better to leave the trees alone. They 

 are easily spoiled by reckless cutting, whereas they will, in 



