196 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



The first lesson, then, is to choose four or five well- 

 spaced branches, having them issue in a spiral around 

 the tree, if possible, and ha\ing them as far apart as they 

 can be conveniently spaced [not less than a handbreadth, 

 preferably two handbreadths or more]. The farther 



apart they are spaced, 

 the stronger and better 

 will be the trunk and 

 the better the tree ob- 

 tained. To do this, one 

 nnist not neglect the 

 tree as soon as it is 

 headed, l)ut must watch 

 it ^•ery carefully the 

 first month or two after 

 it is set out. It will be 

 necessary to rub cer- 

 tain undesirable buds 

 oft', to remove certain 

 undesirable branches, 

 or possibly to suppress 

 fr(Tm time to time cer- 

 tain branches which 

 tend to run away with 

 tlie tree. By observing 

 these simple rules one 

 can build a stronger 

 tree. It is for this rea- 

 son that growers often 

 advocate cutting the 

 tree at 2.5 or 28 inches 

 instead of at 20 inches 

 at setting time, and then spacing the branches from 

 as near the ground as they can get them up to the 

 top of the trunk. However, if the tree is left to itself, 

 the branches will all develop near the top of the trunk, 

 and the tree will be weak. Only by careful watching can 



FIG. 160 

 FI\T.-YF.AR-CI D VVACENER APPIE TREE 

 This tree of less than average vigor was 

 pruned in July. The photo was taken in 

 OLiober. Note that there has been praetically 

 no growth response as the result of pruning. 



