point from which they arise, expand the stock to that size and vigor 
which in after years will be demanded for the support of a spreading 
head and a crop of fruit. 
During the fall or winter after the first summer’s growth, if it have 
been vigorous, the knife may be called for, with a view to forming the 
head at the proper height. To ascertain what this is, it is necessary only 
to observe the appearance of the trees about you. You will see those 
headed at from six to eight feet from the ground, with trunks spindling 
and delicate, their branches “ scraggled,” short, and standing out nearly 
at right angles to the tree, and bearing less fruit at ten years old, than a 
tree of six years with the same culture, and headed at two and a half to 
four feet high. Take hold of the two trees—the tall one, by means of 
the great leverage given to the wind, will be found loose and rickety 
about its roots, leaning to one side, whilst the other will be found firm 
by its hold in the earth, with its branches shooting as nearly perpendicu¬ 
lar as is proper for forming a compact and well shaped head. In addition 
to all this, my own observation has convinced me that trees forming their 
heads near the ground are much less liable to be infected by the fiat bark 
louse than those heading higher. 
As soon as convenient after the falling of the leaf, select one or two 
thrifty sprouts, at two and a half to four feet from the ground, which must 
be left to commence the head of the tree—let all below this be neatlv 
4 
cut off—above cut nothing, except dead and sickly limbs, or one of any 
two which so cross, that the motion of the wind causes them to rub. The 
novice will sometimes be at a loss which of these two to spare—let him 
step back a few feet and see which way his tree is likely to hang—he 
will then select the one by the removal of which the heavy side will be 
lightened—cut no more ; and especially let me caution against a custom 
which prevails in many parts of the country, of cutting out the centre 
branch with the object of giving the tree an open and spreading head. 
By cutting this, I cannot tell why, the vigor of the tree is greatly im¬ 
paired, and the time of its active bearing is delayed at least from one to 
three years. 
So much for pruning the young apple tree. The same directions are 
equally applicable to all the fruit trees which are sufficiently hardy to 
bear our winters. After the trees have come into bearing no pruning is 
