THE FARM ORCHARD 
57 
at the top. The light is prevented from reaching the 
lower parts of the tree, and less fruit is produced. 
Pruning thins these tops. Branches of trees vary in 
productiveness. Some grow nothing but wood, others 
bear fruit. By selecting those branches which bear 
fruit, the yield may be greatly increased. In growing, 
Fig. 38 —Pruning young trees. . ■ 
That on the left is a seedling unpruned. The tree in the center is pruned 
ready for planting. The tree on the right is marked with a piece of chalk 
where it is to be pruned. 
many branches overlap and prevent fruitful branches 
from developing normally. Careful pruning will remove 
competing branches, allowing the desirable ones to 
grow. Undesirable woody growths are removed in 
pruning, as water sprouts and fruitless branches. The 
importance of pruning may be summarized as, (1) Pre¬ 
venting diseases, (2) Permitting light to enter, (3) Se¬ 
lection of fruiting branches, (4) Preventing unneces- 
