46 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



removal of such branches may not be objectionable so 

 far as the direct injury or shock to the vitality of the tree 

 is concerned. But there are important reasons why large 

 branches should not be removed. 



Such pruning exposes dangerous wounds ; it is apt to 

 open the tree so much that some of the remaining parts 

 scald and borers obtain a foothold; it may spoil the sym- 

 metry or convenience of the tree, and such branches may 

 represent a certain amount of energy which should 

 have been earlier directed elsev^'here. Aside from 

 all this, the cutting away of very large branches often in- 

 dicates a lack of enterprise and forethought on the part 

 of the grower, and suggests the feeling that he may be 

 remiss in all his operations. But while I discourage the 

 removal of branches 3 and 4 inches in diameter, it is not 

 because I consider such practice a devitalizing one. I 

 should much prefer the removal of such large branches 

 to total neglect. I have myself removed many such 

 branches 10 and 1.5 years ago from apple trees which are 

 today in most perfect health and vigor. 



46. Experience the best teacher. — 'If philosophy and 

 physiology show that pruning is not a devitalizing 

 process, common experience affords still stronger proof. 

 One of the commonest absurdities in our horticultural 

 literature is the admonition to prune only with a knife, 

 thereby avoiding the cutting of large limbs. Not an or- 

 chardist in the countr}^ practices this advice if he prunes 

 thoroughly! If scientific teaching and permanently suc- 

 cessful practice arc opposed, then the teaching is wrong. 

 [Certainly] some of our accepted teaching on pruning 

 will not stand the test of time. I have frequently observed 

 that well-pruned trees live as long as those unpruned, 

 and I am inclined to believe that they may live longer. 

 They [surely] produce more [and better fruit] during 

 their lifetime. 



But suppose that pruning is a devitalizing process — 



