94 



is taking its place. The low-headed trees have the advantage of 

 high-headed ones in being easier and cheaper to spray, prune and 

 gather fruit from, and less injury to dropped fruit, and less injury 

 by storm. 



The fruit will color and ripen as well. The disadvantages are 

 none, provided they are pruned properly. 



There is a great difference of pruning fruit trees, by growers, 

 college professors, and men with theories, and one point upon which 

 they differ mostly is the ''straight leader" and the ''open head." 



We have experimented with the "straight leader" and the 

 "open head" methods of pruning an apple tree, with the result of 

 adopting the straight leader as the best. 



Question. How do you get rid of the crotch? 



Mr. Cohill. Nearly all growers agree that the "straight lead- 

 er" avoids the crotch, and beginning when a whip, with careful 

 pruning it can be entirely avoided. 



Question. How long do you let the leader grow before prun- 

 ing it oft"? 



Mr. Cohill. Prune when planting, then the third year again. 

 Our "straight leader" is much of a tw^o-story type, for, by keeping 

 the entire centre thinned out well when they bear, it opens up like 

 the "open head" method, still getting the rec[uired support. 



Question. How high is the first tier above ground? 



Mr. Cohill. Start them about i8 inches. Do not let them go 

 straight out, make them slant. 



Question. How are you going to help it after they begin 

 to bear ? 



Mr. Cohill. This can be avoided, to a certain extent, by proper 

 pruning. I am going to give a table that we followed for our prun- 

 ing as closely as possible for the first four years, using a straight 

 leader as a standard. 



First Year. 



The first year consists of pruning done when the trees are 

 planted but if any new shoots tend to make the tree un symmetrical 

 the tips should be pinched off in the summer to check their growth. 

 This summer pinching of symmetrical shoots should be done when- 

 ever necessary in the following years. 



Second Year. 



Cut out all surplus branches and prune back the foundation 

 branches from one-third to one-half their growth, making the tree 

 symmetrical and leaving the central leader shoots longer than the 

 others. Avoid crotches, as they will surely split later and ruin 

 the trees. 



Third Year. 



Do not let two branches cross or rub, and if twigs have grown 

 on the foundation branches near the trunks do not disturb them, 

 except to cut back several buds to induce fruit spurs. 



