GARDENING FoR ALL. III 
It is clear that one of the most important processes of 
pruning is the proper thinning out of the brauches, and this 
is best done when the leaves are on; we can then see better 
the amount of thinning required, the wounds heal more 
quickly, and the sap is diverted into other channels where it 
will be more beneficial. It is nonsense to suppose that the 
trees will bleed, as many unthinking and unobservant persons 
state. 
Apples thinned ; fine fruit. Apples not thinned; 
small fruit. 
If the trees are looked over at the beginning of July, and 
again at the end of August or early in September, and all 
superfluous shoots removed, the side shoots shortened to five 
or six leaves, any old snags removed, and a branch here and 
there where necessary, there will be little pruning required in 
winter. 
The winter pruning will consist of shortening the leading 
shoots a little, cutting the side shoots to a bud or two below 
or nearer the branch than where they were cut at the first 
summer pruning, and removing any dead or over-crowding 
branch or spur. 
Old and worn-out trees may be much improved in vigour 
and fruitfulness by annually removing any dead wood, 
encouraging the production of young wood thinly and evenly 
distributed over the trees, and by applying mulchings of 
manure and doses of liquid manure in summer or winter. 
