232 



PRUNING 



shears with wooden handles are not so satisfactory or power- 

 ful as the double-acting shears (Fig. 775). There are, how- 

 ever, some very powerful, single-acting shears with steel han- 

 dles and wood hand-grips that give excellent service. Many 

 large limbs can be removed without the need of a saw and 

 the work can be done as well and more quickly. The blade 

 should be kept sharp and riveted down to make a clean, 

 smooth cut. 



Pole Pruners. Pole Pruners have only a limited use in 

 orchard pruning. For ordinary cuts, which can easily be 

 made with any of the tools already mentioned, pole pruners 

 should never be used. They are awkvv^ard to handle, and it is 

 diflScult to make a close, smooth cut with them. Only when 

 it seems desirable on young bearing trees to head back the 

 centers of certain of the main limbs which cannot be reached 

 from the ground are pole pruners of much value to the 

 orchardist. In such cases they may be the most economical 

 pruning tool that can be used. They should combine light 

 weight and mechanical strength. Unless used carefully, the 

 cutting blade becomes strained, or broken, causing much 

 annoyance and loss of time. 



4. Pruning the Different Tree Fruits. Since the amount 

 and kind of pruning vary somewhat with the different tree 

 fruits, it is necessary to consider the pruning of each kind 

 separately. 



The Apple 



(a) The Tops of Young Trees Should Be Pruned at 

 Planting Time. When nursery trees are dug, many of the roots 

 are broken or cut off and left in the ground. Because of this 

 greatly decreased root system, it will usually pay to prune 

 the trees moderately after they are set. This will reduce the 

 early leaf area in the spring and make it more nearly possible 

 for the greatly diminished root system to supply suflScient 

 water and mineral nutrients for satisfactory growth. 



