664 Pruning of Newly-Planted Fruit Trees, [feb., 



cut back at the time the upper buds 'are swelling under the 

 influence of this sap flow, and before the leaves have opened to 

 encourage root action, the sap stream is checked, and there 

 is only a very weak action on the lower buds. Matters would 

 right themselves if genial weather prevailed, but if cold winds 

 come in April and May instead of warm rains, the movement 

 is sluggish, and the consequent growth slow. 



Admitting that there is a weak concentration of sap on the 

 lower buds at the time the upper ones are swelling, there should 

 certainly be a much stronger concentration when the upper buds 

 have broken into growth and started that reciprocating action 

 which exists between leaf and root. Consequently it should be 

 advantageous to prune, not while the shoots are practically 

 dormant, but after the upper part is in full motion. This 

 theory is supported by practical results. Spring-planted trees 

 that are pruned while nearly dormant are quite likely to start 

 badly, while trees left until growth is breaking freely and 

 then pruned will go ahead well. The importance of the point 

 will be realized when it is seen that by a slight modification 

 of practice which involves no extra expenditure, a season's 

 growth may be gained. 



To sum up, I consider that it is to the advantage of fruit 

 growers to shape their trees carefully in their early years with 

 a view to extending the fruiting area, and saving much cutting 

 in the future. It is important to prune the trees hard the same 

 season that they are planted, distinguishing, however, between 

 autumn and spring- planted trees to this extent, that the autumn- 

 planted trees should be pruned as soon as possible after they 

 are put in, while the pruning of the spring-planted ones should 

 be deferred until the upper buds have broken well into growth. 



If the fruit grower is also a rose grower he will be the more 

 ready to accept my conclusions, because he will have observed 

 that when roses which have started early are pruned back they 

 universally break strongly. If the upper buds are in full leaf 

 before the lower ones, to which the pruning is eventually done, 

 start at all, the latter are all the stronger when their time 

 comes. 



Walter P. Wright. 



