284 
first of June, and again about the last of 
August or first of September. 
The trees are well watered and man- 
ured and make a rapid growth. 
Fig. 3. Another Tree Grown and Pruned in a 
Manner Similar to That Already Described. 
‘ 
Fig. 4. 
Photos Courtesy Yakima Orchard Securities Co. 
Represents the Same Tree After Pruning. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
The Natural Method 
Pruning is as natural and as old as any 
other orchard operation. Nature has al- 
ways adopted this method for reducing 
the exceedingly large number of buds and 
small sprouts from growing into large 
branches and thereby over-taxing the en- 
ergies of the tree. She not only prunes 
regularly and at the right time but she 
prunes without leaving large and ugly 
scars on the tree. We should try to copy 
after nature by doing the work at the 
proper time and in that way will not only 
remove the small branches but keep the 
tree in Shape throughout. It is quite com- 
mon to wait until undesirable habits of 
growth have established themselves and 
then begin a general thinning out and 
shaping of the tree. The effect of this 
kind of pruning generally results in some 
kind of injury to the plant. 
It is a very hard matter to give definite 
instructions about how to prune trees 
since there are no two trees that are ex- 
actly alike. _ No two trees can be pruned 
alike if they are pruned properly. ‘Prun- 
ing is a matter of judgment, not a rule.” 
No one can tell you how to prune your 
trees without seeing them. While this 
is true there are a few principles which 
may apply everywhere and if the fruit 
grower follows them he ought to avoid 
making many mistakes in pruning. The 
best rule is to prune regularly and at 
the proper time. If the tree is neglected 
for a few years and then severely pruned 
it is likely to make a _ very vigorous 
growth of wood in order to restore the 
balance which the pruner has upset. If 
the tree is cut back severely the roots 
immediately endeavor to restore the 
equilibrium by producing a vigorous top 
growth or heavy growth of suckers or 
sprouts. This is likely to cause a re- 
duction of fruit. Sometimes trees which 
produce a large growth are shy bearers. 
It is better to prune a little every year 
and not a large amount every three 
or four years. If trees are growing too 
fast the worst thing that can be done is 
to remove a large amount of wood dur- 
ing the winter. That only stimulates 
the tree to grow that much faster. If 
the desire is to check the growth it can 
