46 
THE APPLE. 
full bearing, with but little pruning. Pruning, in fine, should be looked 
upon as an exceptional surgical operation, rather than as an every-day, 
matter-of-course affair. With higher skill it may become unnecessary, 
and at present winter pruning especially should be indulged in to as 
limited an extent‘as possible. It may be useful for limiting the number 
and shortening the length of fruiting spurs, for the shortening of leading 
shoots, for the removal of misplaced boughs, the thinning out of over¬ 
crowded branches, and the reduction of their numbers. In a word, we 
prune for fertility, symmetry, size, quality, and as an aid to perfect 
training rather than a substitute for it. By admitting more light 
and air to all portions of the tree, its uniform strength and vigour 
are maintained. The whole produce, being fully exposed to light and 
air, is also almost all good alike. This uniformity of high quality in 
apples is worth all the labour involved in skilful pruning; and, as one 
of its results, perfection of form leaves an equality of like favourable 
conditions for all the fruit — a result impossible generally without 
pruning, and that of the most skilful sort. 
The best time for winter pruning is from October to January. Imme¬ 
diately before or as soon after the fall of the leaf as possible the plant is 
in that state to heal wounds with greatest certainty and despatch. The 
descending sap is the great healer of breaches, and a cut made at the end 
