REJUVENATION OF NEGLECTED TREES 



413 



pruning of the top is indicated in such cases, the idea 

 being to force the development of such adventitious 

 growths. The needless stubs may be cut off two or three 

 years later. It is not wise at once to cut off the limbs at 

 the points to be chosen ultimately — "two or three years 

 later" — because there are not enough water sprouts and 

 small branches to utilize the plant food forced up by the 

 roots. 



On the other hand, when there are plenty of water 

 sprouts placed well down on the trunk and the main 



FIG. 323— ISOLATED APPLE TREE AFTER BEING PRUNED 



branches, the tops may be dehorned. Here again good 

 judgment is necessary. So many trees are needlessly 

 dehorned that it seems necessary to say that when a tree 

 has a fairly good top better lower it a little at a time, 

 taking three to five years to do the work, by cutting out 

 small limbs in the top each year. Thus the trees should 



