PKUXING. 
43 
Summer pruning also puts the fruit in the best places. It probably 
makes no inconsiderable difference to the perfect swelling of fruit 
whether it is placed near or far from the main branches. Placed on 
the highest point of the branches, the fruit no doubt gets more fully 
exposed to light and air. But the advantages arising from this are 
probably largely neutralised by the distance of the fruit from its main or 
leading supplies. By a proper system of summer pruning the fruit may be 
as fully exposed to light and air as is possible, while it is posted 
% 
near to the main currents of the sap or leading branches of the tree. 
But summer pruning is also a time-saving as well as space-husbanding 
expedient. A year or more is often saved by judicious summer pruning 
or stopping. It accelerates as well as augments fertility. It converts 
mere growing force into fruitful condition, and more is done in a few 
months to establish and perpetuate fertility by summer pruning than 
is often done in as many or more years by winter pruning. 
The success of summer pruning depends a good deal on the time when 
it is done, and the extent to which it is carried. Prune too soon, and all 
the buds left will break into wood, instead of being transformed into 
flower buds. The buds left may also break too soon during the current 
^ear, instead of the next. Shoots thus produced out of season cannot 
be ripened before winter, and immature wood makes the trees tender, and 
causes them to suffer from frost. Summer-prune too late, and the buds 
are not sufiiciently fllled before the end of the season. The best time 
is from the middle of June to the middle of July, according to the 
earliness or lateness of the season. The extent to prune back the 
young wood also requires skill and expe¬ 
rience ; for apples from four or eight buds 
may often be left on the young wood (Fig. 30). 
If the wood is weak, two or three buds may be 
sufficient; if strong, perhaps four or more 
buds had better be left. 
One summer’s pruning should suffice; a 
second or more prunings or stoppings are to 
be avoided. These interfere too much with 
growth, and prevent alike buds and shoots from 
arriving at maturity. The leading branches ara. generally better without 
much summer pruning, unless in those cases in which no extension of 
growth is needed. When trees have attained full size, the leading or main 
shoots, as well as the side shoots or breast wood, may be summer-pruned. 
But when the trees are still to be enlarged l|p. size, the leading shoots 
should not be summer-pruned, and this unchecked growth of part of the 
tree tends to augment its strength as well s enlarge its fertility. 
