63 
gling so as to form a dense mass of branches which can not be sprayed 
properly, and there is no room between the rows for wagons or culti- 
vators. It is strongly urged that the trees be set not closer than 30 
feet apart; some growers pref(u- 40 feet. 
PRUNING. 
No arbitrary rules can be made for pruning on account of the fact 
that every kind of tree and plant, in fact ever}^ individual, presents 
its own peculiar problem; but there is an ideal which the pruner should 
endeavor to attain. It is found in many sections of the West that the 
trees have been allowed to fork so that there are two or three main 
branches, and upon bearing a heavy crop these branches have split 
apart, sometimes totally ruining the tree. At best, if the branches 
are brought back into place and held by bolts, wires, or ropes, a crack 
will be left, into which fungous diseases can enter and in which codling 
moth larva? will spin their cocoons. Such a break should be dressed 
with grafting wax or shellac varnish, and the branches fastened closely 
together. With proper pruning, when the head of the tree is being 
formed, this trouble may be avoided. Instead of two or three main 
branches, the head of the tree should be so formed as to have four to 
six, thus distributing the weight, and preventing breakage under 
ordinary conditions. 
Many apple growers have headed their trees too high for best 
results. The disadvantages of this method are that it is difficult to 
reach the fruit and foliage with spra}^, and much more difficult and 
expensive to harvest the fruit. Other growers have headed their trees 
so low that the branches spread and droop so that the}^ are close to the 
ground. In many instances when there is a heavj^ crop of fruit these 
branches bend down and either touch or lie upon the ground. The 
result is that much of the fruit on the interior of these trees and on 
the under sides of the outer branches is so shaded by the foliage that 
the sunlight can not reach it, and a large percentage will bo poorly 
colored and of second qualit3\ (See PI. IX.) 
A mean between this high and low heading is to be desired, which 
will do away with most of the disadvantages of these extreme methods. 
In order to secure proper coloring in fruits on trees it is necessary 
that enough smaller branches be removed to admit an alnind-mce of 
sunlight through the tops. 
In the arid sections of the Far West the trees grow with great rapid- 
it} , and if allowed to take their natural course become slender and not 
strong enough to support a normal weight of fruit. It has been found 
that by cutting back half of each year's growth the trees will bo made 
to grow heavier and stockier, and thus be able to support the weight 
of a large load of fruit without any danger of breaking. 
