270 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
On the second day of the Conference, Friday, September 27, 
the chair was taken by Mr. Geobge Bunyard at 3.30 p.m, 
PRUNING FRUIT TREES. 
By Mr. A. H. Peaeson, F.R.H.S. 
I HAVE been asked to read a paper upon this subject, and I must 
say I approach the task with a certain amount of trepidation. 
So much has been said and written on the pruning of fruit trees 
that one might fancy it somewhat hackneyed ; and yet I find 
from experience that there is still a great deal of darkness in 
the mind of the average amateur upon this subject, and 
even the great lights of horticulture differ very materially 
upon some important points. Let us take, for instance, the 
very first question which arises in the mind of the ordinary 
amateur. He purchases some fruit trees from a nurseryman, 
and his first question is. Should these trees be pruned at 
the time of planting? I think I may safely say that nine 
authorities out of ten would, a few years ago, have replied with 
one voice. No, by no means prune them. For it is not so long 
ago that a little band, whom I might liken to Macaulay's " daunt- 
less three," withstood a host of experts upon this very question, 
and, I am glad to say, withstood them with such obstinacy that, 
although the question was not settled, it was loft as an open one ; 
and even to-day I read articles recommending that, broadly speak- 
ing, newly planted fruit trees should not be pruned, from the 
pens of those to whose opinions I would pay the greatest respect, 
but from whom, upon this particular point, I must most decidedly 
differ. The advocates of non-pruning assert that, the transplanting 
being a considerable check to the tree, this result should be coun- 
teracted by leaving the branches full length for the first year, so 
that they may produce as much foliage as possible, and thus induce 
active root-action ; whilst those who advocate tlic pruning of newly 
transplanted trees take an entirely different view of the matter, 
and argue that as the act of transplanting is ono which, liowover, 
carofully carried out, inusi entail sonic chcclc upon the I'oots, 
and also in all probability some reduction of their lengih, the 
