292 SOILS AND PLANT LIFE 



likely to rob the trees of their moisture, and those which 

 allow the water to run off instead of soaking into the 

 ground, should not be allowed to take possession of the 

 soil. 



223. The Training of the Young Plants. — The training 

 of the young plants must begin the same season they are 

 set out, as usually the first few seasons determine the 

 fomj of the tree or vine. Three facts should be kept in 

 miivi in pruning, or training any young trees, limbs or 

 vines : 



(1) Each plant should be so placed and trained that all 

 its leaves may receive plenty of sunlight in order that they 

 may manufacture an abundance of food for the plant. 



(2) Except in a very few localities in the United States, 

 the main limbs of a tree should be quite close to the ground. 

 A low-headed, vase-formed tree is less liable to injury 

 from wind and sun, the branches receive plenty of light, 

 and the fruit is much easier to gather. 



(3) Heavy pruning, one year in many, upsets the habits 

 of the plant and results in too much wood growth. On 

 the other hand, those pruned lightly each year maintain 

 a normal, healthy growth. 



224. When and how Fruit Buds form. — When by 

 proper cultivation and pruning we have developed a 

 tree or vine of the type which we desire, we must turn our 

 attention to making it bear fruit. 



Fruit develops from blossoms. Blossoms develop from 

 blossom buds, or fruit buds, as they are called. And these 

 blossom buds develop from slight enlargements, or pro- 

 tuberances, within the protecting leaf buds. 



If we were to take two or three eggs each day from an 

 incubator, break them open and examine them, we could 



