THORN TREES ON TOP OF ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS PRUNED BY CATTLE 



Courtesy F. E. Brooks 



'tHAPTER XII. 



PRUNING. 



"Watch over your trees with jealous eye 

 If any fault or harm you spy, 

 Proceed at once the cause to know, 

 Nor give the mischief time to grow. 

 Cut out each cankerous spot with care, 

 Until the wood shows white and fair. 

 Cut lengthwise to the bark, though sound, 

 With beeswax cover well each wound." 



There are many and varied operations that 

 the orchardist is called upon to perform in 

 growing the trees, and in the production of a 

 fruit crop. Each in its turn may seem to be the 

 most important. One grower may regard this 

 as the most vital, while another may lay greater 

 stress on an entirely different part of the 

 work. Had we been asked a few years ago to 

 mention the one operation which we consid- 



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