Pruning Mature Trees. 7 
A discussion of the amount of pruning required by different 
varieties could almost as well be introduced as those on the pruning 
of different kinds of fruit trees. Yet, the growth of the tree, and 
necessarily the pruning, depends much upon soil conditions; and, 
while it might be possible, it would hardly be safe to lay down defi¬ 
nite rules for the pruning of any particular variety. Both the 
Winesap and Missouri (Pippin) may be classed as prolific varieties 
that require sereve pruning. The Jonathan, at the age of eleven or 
twelve years, almost invariably begins to grow spindling in the top 
and requires frequent cutting back to keep the tree in a thrifty con¬ 
dition. Figure 3 shows a Jonathan tree well headed-in, with stocky 
growth, while Figure 4 is of a neglected tree of the same variety, of 
the same age. These willowy limbs bear small leaves and an abun¬ 
dance of apples that rarely come up to size, and the liability of such 
neglected trees breaking down under a load of fruit is well shown 
in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows how sprouts are largely avoided by 
cutting to side limbs. Varieties that bloom heavily but set very 
few fruits should be treated as varieties that overbear; prune them 
heavily during the dormant season. Varieties that refuse to de¬ 
velop fruit buds should not be pruned excessively, during the dor¬ 
mant season at least. Summer pruning is supposed to incite fruit¬ 
fulness, but does not always give uniform and satisfactory results. 
Such varieties may be forced to fruit more easily by withholding 
water in midsummer, or better still, plant them on a light soil; poor 
bearers are nearly always strong growers, and very often a shy 
bearer on heavy soil is prolific on a gravelly hillside. The Yellow 
Newtown is a striking example of a variety of this type. The 
growth and fruiting habit of the tree, we will see determine largely 
ywhat treatment it shall receive at the hand of the pruner. While 
pruning may not take the place of thinning entirely it may be em¬ 
ployed as a means of correcting the faults of alternate bearing and 
of overbearing. 
PRUNING THE APRICOT. 
In the general growth and fruiting habit of the tree the apricot 
occupies a position between the cherry and the peach. The fruit 
buds are developed in the axils of leaves on both shortened spur¬ 
like twigs and the stronger growing new wood. These fruiting 
spurs of the apricot differ from those of the cherry in that they de¬ 
velop no true terminal buds. The apparent terminal of the new 
growth is a lateral bud and may be either a fruit bud or a branch 
bud. It is generally a branch bud, but it is not uncommon to find 
weak spurs bearing only fruit buds, and such spurs with no branch 
bud to continue their growth must perish at the close of the fruit¬ 
ing season. 
The general plan of pruning the apricot will resemble that fol- 
U. OF ILL LIB. 
