APPLES 293 
Vig. 1. A Neglected Apple Tree. 
er it becomes top-heavy and too many 
fruitspurs are formed. Following this 
condition the tree sets more fruit than it 
can properly mature and as the years go 
by the fruit gradually becomes under- 
sized. Careful pruning simplifies and 
often renders unnecessary the thinning 
of the fruit. The best pruning is that 
which is done during the formative per- 
iod. It is better to train the tree during 
its younger years than to use the pruning 
saw severely when it is grown. The head 
of the tree should be opened to admit the 
sunlight, and all branches which inter- 
fere Should be removed. Any branch which 
is growing towards the center of the tree 
rather than outward should also be taken 
out. 
In the removal of any large branches 
care should be taken to make the cut 
close and parallel to the remaining stem. 
Whenever a stub is left the wound will 
not heal properly. If the wound is more 
than two inches in diameter the surface 
should be coated with some antiseptic and 
waterproof material such as white lead. 
Fig. 2. The Same Tree After Pruning. 
The best time to prune in this section 
is after the severe weather of winter is 
past and from then on to the middle of 
May, with the exception of the brief per- 
iod just at the leafingout time when the 
tree is liable to bleed badly. 
For Iowa conditions a low-headed tree is 
to. be desired for a number of reasons. 
The fruit is much easier to pick, the 
spraying can be done more thoroughly, 
there are less windfalls, and the tree is 
also less liable to sun scald. The first 
branches should be formed 20 to 24 inches 
above the ground. If the tree is headed 
too high when it comes from the nursery, 
it can be cut back, removing the stem at 
the poirt where it is desired that the first 
branches shall appear. Low-headed trees 
are sometimes objected to on the ground 
that they are difficult to cultivate under. 
In this connection, we would call atten- 
tion to the fact that many growers make 
a far more laborious and difficult opera- 
tion of cultivating than is necessary or 
desirable. The bulk of the feeding roots 
of the tree are in a zone at about the 
