PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AS RELATED TO PRUNING 33 



continue leafy. (Figs. 25, 26, 27.) The result is the long, 

 bare trunks which characterize forest trees, whereas the 

 same species growing in the open would have short, 

 branchy trunks. From the lumberman's point of view, 

 the former are the more desirable, but they are produced 

 at too great a risk of decay by means of fungi and bac- 

 teria, which may enter through decaying stubs of limbs. 

 In the other striking application, namely, the fruit planta- 

 tion, similar results follow the too close 



37. Spacing of trees and shrubs. — Just as in the forest, 

 trees planted too closely together grow inordinately tall. 

 (Fig. 25, 27.) Their lower twigs and limbs die because 

 improperly lighted, and the orchardist is put to serious 

 expense in pruning, spraying, thinning and harvesting. 

 Nowhere is this so conspicuous as in neglected, closely 

 set orchards. (Fig. 22.) Often orchards which so far 

 as the health of the trees is concerned might be renovated 

 cannot be so worked over because too much wood would 

 have to be removed to bring the tops down to workable 

 heights, or too many trees would ha\c to be cut out to 

 leave profitable numbers in given areas. 



