Show ANNUAL PRUNING OF APPLE TREES hearing bearing apple trees in ili eairly vigorous condition in ili tile the idl copt apple orchard need a light but thorough tin an duill pruning to keep them in proper shape anys A freeman mason fruit 1 of tho the now new jersey 11 intension service B it if tile tho trees are properly pruned cacti your they will never bo be come thick and brushy and tile pruning job will bo be reint relatively IvelY simple this annual pruning will consist principally of the removal of w water ater sprouts and small interfering branches tile tho latter occur principally in tile the outer portions of tho the tree where heavy crops have caused brandies branches to be permanently manent ly bent down or across ath other er limbs twigs which liang hang down underneath or from the top of and lop over along abo abe branches should bo be removed first this thinning out of small branches should be very thorough occasionally it will be necessary to remove one or two largo large limbs but usually the pruning can bo be accomplished by cutting branches not larger than an inch in diameter when in doubt about any cut it I 1 la generally advisable to remove it if the tree has reached a helret ot of twenty feet or more any upright branches hran chea in the top running above this height should be removed in order to limit the tree to an economical size occasionally it will ho be desirable to bend anels lateral branches tor for tho the same bame reason all dead and diseased wood should be removed although the amount of such wood will be very small unless the trees are quite old or lieve been badly neglected pruning may bo be dono done at any time until growth starts in tile spring |