212 



rRINCIPI.ES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



the least. One will then have five main branches with a 

 few laterals on each. It is customary to remove all these 

 laterals. [But "custom" should be based on principle. 

 I'^ach case should, therefore, be decided Ijy the pruner's 

 best judgment. Cut or leave the laterals as judgment 

 may dictate.] By the middle of June, the young tree 

 should have made sufficient growth to allow for summer 

 pruning". Each branch should be pinched back so as to 

 lea\e it from 8 to 1") inches long, cutting according to 

 ^■igor, always suppressing the stronger. 



171. In the third spring each of the original five main 

 frame limbs will have from one to a dozen lateral or addi- 

 tional branches. It is 

 customary to remove 

 all but one from each 

 main branch, so that 

 when the tree is pruned 

 there will be ten 

 branches on the tree 

 where there were five 

 before. A great deal of 

 care should be used in 

 selecting these n e w 

 laranches. The two 

 l)ranches on each frame 

 limb should be spaced 

 as far apart as possible. 

 ()f course avoid the 

 choosing of laterals 

 which will tend to grow 

 in toward the center of 

 the tree. Then avoid 

 cutting these two lat- 

 erals equally. Choose 

 one branch which will 

 grow as a leader and do 

 not cut this back quite 



FIG. 176 — FIVE-YEAR NEWTOWN PRUNED 

 The winter pruning has been lifiht heeause 

 the tree is reaching the critical stage when it 

 should begin to bear. Heavy pruning might 

 keep it from bearing. 



