CHAPTER III 



THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRUNING* 



38. Good and bad effects of pruning. — Every owner of 

 a fruit tree ex])ects to prune, or at least, he considers the 

 a(l\isal)ility of tlie operation, "i'herc is the greatest dif- 

 ference of opinion as to the merits of particular styles 

 and methods of pruning, and perhaps equal difference as 



FIG. 23— RESULT OF CLOSE PLANTING AND POOR PRUNING 

 These tree heads are practically out of reach, hence spraying and thinning are 

 out of tlie question and harv'esting so costly as to "eat up the profits." 



to the elfect of the operation on the life and health of the 

 tree. Perhaps e\-ery fruit grower has observed evil effects 

 to result from pruning, and many of these observers have 

 reasoiu-il therefrom that pruning is itself injurious, or at 



-'■ This chapter, except the parts in hrjckets. is the some\\'hat condensed answer 

 v.h'ch 1 , M. Railey t;a\c the Peninsular Horticultural Society to the question, "Does 

 Pruning Dc\ italize Plants?" 



34 



