PRINCIPLES AND PRACTKE OF PRUNING 



The pictures show how tlie trees looked in the following April at 

 the time of the first pruning. No. l had formed five vigorous 

 branches, No. 'i produced four and No. '.i but two. 



The live branches on No. 1 were saved to form a framework for 

 the tree and were cut back to about one foot. These arc well dis- 

 tributed about the trunk, but are too close together. The lowest 

 limb might well be double the distance from the top. No. la shows 

 Xo. 1 after it was pruned, with the idea of making an open-centered 

 tree. 



In No. 2 the limbs are too ch^se. All of these were saved to form 

 the framework of a tree, with a leader, as is shown in No. :3a. The 

 only difference between this and No. la is that the tnpnmst branch 

 was left longer than the others. The iiruner of this tree carelessly 

 allowed three \'igorous limbs to grow 

 from near the surface of the ground, for 

 they could ser\e no useful purpose, but 

 only rob the other limbs of jilant food. 

 Such growths are best pre\-entcd by 

 puiching off the buds early in the season. 



No. 3 failed to throw out enough 

 branches to form a suitable top. The tw(i 

 produced are nearly opposite, so a bad 

 crotch would soon result. Both branches 

 were cut back tn the seci.md bud, as shown 

 in a, in hope <if inducing dormant Ijuils 

 to push out lower down. At the close 

 of the second season the pruned trees harl 

 made a growth respectively as shown in 

 lb, 2b and 3b. 



Pruning results are shown in 1c. 2c 

 and 3c. Tree No. 1 is shown in Ic. 

 One of the frame limbs seemed super- 

 fluous, so it was renioNcd and the ncA- 

 growth, shown in lb, was cut back about 

 one-half. The few side shoots were ea:b 

 cut back to a single bud, with the idea "f 

 developing fruit spurs during the second 

 year, wdien numerous branches should de- 

 \-elop on all of the lindis. As a rule two 

 of the best placed of these secondary 

 limbs will be selected im each of the main 

 limbs to form additional framework. The 

 rest may be removed or cut back to de- 

 \elop fruit Sf)Urs as may seem desiraftlc. 



The form of the tree, then, should be I"-^- ' '■■ 



developed .at the beginning of tlic tbir.l WEI l.-BRANCHEn NURS- 



season, and subsequent pruning should be 'c^lW^T \^['J^'^'' ^r"^ 



(lirecceil toward retaining this shape, cut- placed. 



