234 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 



ing will not occur, as it would have done 

 earlier in the season. 



When considering the pruning of fruit trees, 

 such as apple, pear and peach, we prefer to 

 have these cuts made as near the growing sea- 

 son as possible so they may begin to heal at 

 once. When cuts, especially large ones, are 

 made earlier in the season and exposed to the 

 dry winter winds, the evaporation is very great. 

 We often find these wounds cracking, just as 

 the wood, which has been chopped ready 

 for use and after lying in the sun and air for 

 a few days (although the weather may be cold) 

 we find cracks in all directions from the heart 

 of the stick. Whenever this occurs the water 

 finds entrance and causes trouble. A good 

 dressing of some kind will overcome this to a 

 great extent. The dressing should always be 

 used on large limbs, regardless of the time the 

 pruning is done. 



How TO Prune. — Having already decided 

 that pruning should be done as near the grow- 

 ing season as possible, and having given our 

 reasons for it, having made some exceptions, 

 namely, the maples and any other trees that 

 bleed, we come to consider how these limbs 

 should be removed, how the cuts shall be made, 

 and what tools shall be used. If we could, we 



