FRUIT GROWING 



299 



young trees or vines and also as a means of inducing the 

 formation of fruit buds. Let us bring togethier the reasons 

 for this important operation. They are : 



(1) To regulate the size and shape of the tree or vine. 



(2) To remove unnecessary and rubbing twigs or small 

 Umbs which prevent the sunlight from reaching the fruit- 

 bearing wood in the inner parts of the tree top. 



(3) To remove any dead or diseased portions of the 

 plant. Many of the diseases of both the limbs and the 

 fruit may be controlled by cutting out and burning the 

 limbs as soon as the blights or cankers appear. 



(4) To increase the vigor and health, and thereby the 

 wood growth of the tree or vine. Plants which have a feeble 

 root system are greatly benefited by pruning, while the 

 rate of growth of healthy trees is increased in the same way 

 if the work is done in the dormant season. 



(5) To increase fruitfulness. As has been shown, check- 

 ing the growth of trees and vines tends to stimulate the 

 formation of fruit buds. Pruning in the early summer, 

 unlike that done in the winter, checks the growth of wood 

 and favors that of fruit buds. 



Fig. 133. — Grape vine pruned to a double T. 



228. Methods of Pruning. — With the reasons for 

 pruning clearly in mind, we are ready to take up the 

 methods of performing this important work. These will 



