THE JOURNAL A 



OF THE 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Vol. XIV. NO, 12r c 



MARCH, 1908. 



PRUNING FRUIT TREES. 

 Walter P. Wright, 

 (i) Young Trees. ■ 



Pruning is one of the most important, and at the same time 

 one of the most interesting, matters connected with the cul- 

 tivation of fruit. Other things being equal, a well pruned 

 tree will yield a much heavier weight of fruit in a given period 

 than a badly pruned one. The fruit will be finer and of higher 

 value. 



To- state an apparent paradox, the object of pruning should 

 be to prevent the necessity for priming. A tree that is pro- 

 perly pruned in its infancy, when it is small, and consequently 

 quickly and easily dealt with, will need much less pruning 

 when it reaches maturity than a tree that was neglected, or 

 injudiciously dealt with, in its youth. It is for this reason 

 that any consideration of the subject of pruning should begin 

 with the young tree. 



Fruit trees are raised by being grafted on to allied plants 

 termed " stocks." As a matter of fact, the majority are 

 budded, but it is in no way extravagant to speak of budding 

 as a form of grafting. It is not proposed to deal with budding 

 or grafting in the present article, but it may be said that the buds 

 are inserted in summer, and if they fail the stocks are grafted 

 in the following spring. In spring the tree is merely a 



worked stock " ; in autumn of the same year it is a 

 " maiden " tree. The number of private growers who pro- 

 pagate fruit trees is inconsiderable ; the majority purchase 



(3i io) 



2 Y 



