VI 



THE PRUNING OF THE APPLE-TREE 



We have found that not all the buds grow. We also 

 know that some of the spurs and shoots perish, not alone 

 from accident but from defeat in the struggle to live. 

 The chances of success are relatively few. The pruning 

 process begins early in the life of the tree, and it con-' 

 tinues ceaselessly until the end. 



To the apple-tree in the wild, strict pruning is the 

 assurance of success. No tree can reach maturity unless 

 more parts perish than are able to live. The young forest 

 tree has branchlets and leaves along its side and at the top. 

 All these perish as the trunk rises, often leaving marks 

 on the bark, curls in the wood, and knot-holes large and 

 small. Thousands of perished buds and branches are the 

 price of a straight bole and great clear sheets of boards. 

 Yet these perished parts bore their burden in their day and 

 time, and contributed to the ultimate success : there could 

 have been no tree without them. 



Any tree-top discloses the pruning in action if one 

 looks intently. Part of it is recorded in the buds that 

 never put forth a leaf ; more of it in little shoots left be- 

 hind ; and there are large and small limbs, dead and dying, 

 yellowing apparently before their time, hanging on till 

 the last hold is broken. Were it not for the benevolent 



36 



