APPLES 29 
growers that whatever tends to check 
growth increases the fruitfulness of the 
plant. Pruning can be used to accom- 
plish this result to a certain limited de- 
gree. Plantations which are tardy in 
coming into bearing may, therefore, by 
judicious pruning, be brought into profit- 
able production. 
Accelerating Growth 
Contradictory as it may at first thought 
appear, pruning is frequently resorted to 
to accelerate or augment growth in plants. 
Weak growing nursery stock is frequently 
severely cut back during the resting 
period in order that all the strength of 
the root may be forced into the formation 
of a single upright stalk which will make 
the plant a salable nursery tree. 
Rejuvenation of Old Trees 
Severe pruning is also resoried to with 
older plants for the purpose of rejuvenat- 
ing them Old apple trees and old shade 
trees are frequently so treated, in order 
to induce them to throw out strong new 
shoots. 
Effect on Fruit Crop 
With such plants as the peach, which 
bears its fruit upon the growth of the pre- 
vious year, pruning is of great impor- 
tance, as the grower can reduce the crop 
in proportion to the capacity of the tree. 
Successful fruit growers thoroughly un- 
derstand the importance of gauging the 
quantity of fruit allowed to be borne by a 
tree to the capacity of the tree, the ability 
of the tree in this respect being meas- 
ured by the rate of growth, the variety, 
and the soil and climatic conditions to 
which it is subjected. 
Control of Disease 
Pruning is of prime importance also in 
controlling the action of some of our most 
dreaded plant diseases. The study of pear- 
blight, for instance, has shown that this 
disease is very generally communicated 
from plant to plant by insects, through 
the pollen, as they pass from blossom to 
blossom, or, later in the season, from shoot 
to shoot. It is also believed that the dis- 
ease can be carried by the wind and that 
infection can take place while the vegeta- 
tive processes are active and the tissue 
~] 
at the ends of the branches can easily be 
entered by the germs of the disease. 
L. C. Corecrt, 
Washington, D C 
Pruning as Taught by W. 8. Thornber 
Every tree is a rule unto itself and no 
two tiees can always be pruned exactly 
the same. The pruner should be quick 
to detect the weaknesses as well as the 
strong marks of a variety or individual. 
He must be elastic in thought and percep- 
tion as well as application or he will ruin 
many a valuable tree. His duty is to make 
the best of every individual tree regard- 
less of its condition or shape. 
While it may be possible to grow a suc- 
cessful orchard in some places without 
pruning, it is an absolute impossibility 
here in the West The successful grower 
must prune every year at least once if he 
would have perfect trees. 
When to Prune 
There can be no best time to prune all 
varieties and ages of trees in all cli- 
mates. The vigorous growers and shy 
bearers on rich moist soil should be sum- 
mer pruned as well as winter pruned, or 
at least summer pruned; while the slow 
growers and heavy bearers should always 
be pruned during the winter. One must 
constantly remember that heavy winter 
pruning tends to stimulate wood growth 
while heavy summer pruning tends to de- 
velop fruit buds. 
The essential thing in a young tree is 
that it make strong, rapid growth, and 
so it should be pruned during the dormant 
or winter season to induce this growth. 
As soon as it becomes large enough and 
old enough to bear this winter pruning 
may or may not be modified or even sup- 
plemented by summer pruning. The es- 
sential thing in an old apple tree is that it 
produce fruit and so it should be pruned 
in such a manner that it will produce 
fruit. In Eastern Washington and most 
of the irrigated valleys the trees produce 
fruit too young and tend to overbear, 
while in Western Washington the reverse 
is true. With these facts before us it is 
easy to see why it is best to prune the 
young trees and most of the old ones in 
the central and eastern parts of the state 
