GENERAL NOTES ON PRUNING. 35 
the ordinary small hand pruning shears and a pruning 
knife. I can work much faster and with less fatigue by 
getting into the tree with saw and shears, than I can by 
standing on the ground and using patent pruning tools. 
Of course I am now speaking of pruning an orchard. 
Upon isolated shade or ornamental trees the long-handled 
tools are convenient. I do not like heavy ladders. If 
step ladders are usec, they should be very light. The 
best ladder is made of three rounds. This is long enough 
to enable one to get into the tree, or the legs can be 
crossed about the top round, as in figure 3, if one must 
reach a limb where there is no support for the ladder. 
This simple ladder is in use among grafters. 
Branches iia are parallel with stronger horizontal 
fi limbs should be removed. If 
two limbs rub, one should be 
cut out. The vigilant orchard- 
ist will cut out unnecessary 
limbs before they get large and 
troublesome. It is often said 
that one should never use any 
other tool than a knife in prun- 
ing an orchard ; that every un- 
necessary limb should be cut 
before it is‘large enough to de- 
mand a saw. This condition 
of things is certainly a desirable 
Fig. 8.4 SHORT LADDER. ~— Ggngummation, but I do not be- 
lieve that it can be done, unless the operator has little else 
on his hands than a hundred apple trees. I should not 
limit my pruning by the size of the limbs to be cut. 
