4th veer, and following- Until the trees begin to bear 
the foundation branches should be cut back annually to make 
them short and strong to support heavy loads of fruit without 
preaking down. After fruiting begins, not much pruning is 
necessarv except to thin out excess growth and kee, the Bead 
well enough opened to let the sunlight in and permis all of 
the fruit te become well colored. 
In cutting or sawing a limb from the trunk, cr a small 
limb from a larger one, the cut should be made close up to 
the surface from which it is removed, so as not to leave a wu 
Stub. Wounds made by proper pruning neal over readily, but 
stubs seldom heal over, but they decay, and lead the decay i 
inte the trunk, tus wetkening und eventually Killing it. 
Wherever the orchard land in Maryland is not too steep, 
intensive cultivation should be practised, It should be piow- 
ed in he spring, as soon as the land is in good plowing 
condition, and then be thoroughl: harrowed to work the soil 
into good tilth. Every ten days or two weeks the harrow 
should be run over the ground to loosen it up, unless a heavy 
rain has packed it down in the meantime when it should be 
harrowed as soén as dry enough. The point is to maintain a 
fine loose dust mulch on the surface cf the soil to prevent 
whe (-29-) 
