104 
AMERICAN P0M0E0GICAE SOCIETY 
Styles of Pruning. 
The style of pruning adopted for ordinary orchard work does not matter 
greatly so long as the original plan is adhered to and followed up annually 
with systematic trimming. Good growers produce good fruit with all styles 
of pruning. However, the extent to which pruning is carried does make a 
great difference in the final outcome. Moslt growers err on the side of 
pruning too little rather than too much. Whatever style of pruning is adopted, 
the tops of the trees should be kept sufficiently open to admit light and air 
essential to the full development of the fruit. Personally, we like open cen- 
tered trees because of the increased bearing surface exposed to light and air 
and because of greater convenience in spraying and harvesting the crop. In 
planting it is well to leave some vacant space at the outskirts of the orchard 
where trimmings may be burned, otherwise the disposal of the brush may 
become a serious problem, especially in a large orchard. This outside space 
will also greatly facilitate turning in working the orchard, particularly if a 
tractor is used for cultivation. 
Spraying and Sprayers. 
Often before the pruning is completed in the spring, spraying for 
scale must begin, followed shortly by spraying for other insects and fun- 
gous diseases. The kind of equipment to use is often a perplexing problem. 
Of course, if the orchard is of considerable size some form of power sprayer 
will be selected, but which of the various types of sprayers shall the grower 
use? Shall he purchase the gasoline engine type, the compressed air 
sprayer, the gas sprayer, the outfit which derives its power from gearing 
to the wagon wheel or the type recently introduced known as the “Air- 
Tight”? The lay of the land and extent of the orchard is a limiting factor 
to a certain extent when it comes to a choice of outfit. For example, the 
use of the compressed air sprayer would not be practicable if the lay of 
the land and extent of the orchard were such that it would be difficult or 
impossible to select some one or two distributing points easily accessible 
to all parts of the orchard where water could be secured in abundance 
and where the engine and compressor could be located. Under such con- 
ditions the gasoline engine outfit works well since with a tank-filler water 
can be derived from any stream, spring or water hole in or about the 
orchard. Concentrated materials for making the spray mixture may be 
easily and cheaply hauled to all such points or the materials may be prepared 
at some common center and hauled in supply tanks to distant parts of 
the orchard, then quickly pumped into the sipray tank by use of a tank- 
filler attached to the spray engine. Gas sprayers and sprayers operated by 
gearing to the wagon wheel are open to serious objections and are not 
extensively used. 
The weak points in the common gasoline engine outfits on the market are 
the heavy weight to be hauled about and engine troubles brought about largely 
by hauling the outfit from place to place, often over rough, uneven land. 
The obpection to the compressed air outfit lies in the fact that it must 
be returned to the supply plant each time when the tanks are emptied. 
