trying the experiment of doing no pruning whatever, except to ctit 

 out branches that cross and branches that spring from the body that 

 are not wanted- A\> are not cutting back any from the branches 

 that we want saved, hoping to get a somewhat better formed tree. 

 So much depends upon the conditions and so much upon your idea 

 of a tree, that I am not writing down an}: arbitrary rule. 



Member. Do you not think if you stimulated the growth of 

 the slow growing trees with fertilizer you wotild get a quicker lot 

 of fruit? 



Prof. Hedrick. Well, it is possible. 



Member. The untrimmed tree is higher up in the air in two 

 or three years than the one cut back severely, but not so stocky. 



Prof. Hedrick. A\'hen you begin pruning young trees yoti have 

 to keep at it. 



Member. Did you ever try cutting them back and cultivating 

 a good growth the lirst vear and never pruning any more? 



Prof. Hedrick. I have not seen that done. I think we would 

 have too many branches without cutting back. 



Memiber. Did you cut the peach trees back? 



Prof. Hedrick. We cut those back to whips, and curiously 

 enough it happened to be one of those seasons in which the trees 

 refused to throw out buds from whips. Some of our peach men are 

 going to set their peach trees the same as we do the apples, without 

 any pruning whatever. 



Dr. Stewart. I wonder if we are jtistihed in saying that win- 

 ter pruning stimulates growth when e^'en in winter we are cutting 

 off those most vigorous buds that you refer to. and I ha\-e noticed 

 that growers in England lind that all pruning, regardless of season, 

 tends to reduce growth and fruiting, so that my question here is 

 whether or not we are really certain that winter pruning stimulates 

 growth. 



Prof. Hedrick. I do not ctit oil any stimmer or winter unless 

 the limbs cross then they have to come oti". 



Dr. Stewart. Personally. I do not believe that winter pruning 

 stimulates growth. 



Prof, Hedrick. AA'ell, you do not and I do. that is all there is 



of it. 



