| Show too many branches cut off trees first season many orchard growers in an effort to make their trees appear properly pruned remove entirely too many branches the first year says T J talbert chairman of the horticulture department part ment ot of the missouri college of agriculture this usually happens when growers take possession of an orchard in which pruning has been badly neglected or when they appreciate c too late the value of pruning in their orchards this severe pruning after years of 11 negligence egli gence may throw out of balance the top and root system and produce a heavy growth of water sprouts which may result in little or no fruit development it Is a much wiser procedure to prune only moderately the first sear jear removing and thinning out the he small branches in the top 0 of f the tree here and there in the center and on the sides in order to open up the tree for the admittance of sunlight and air it Is seldom advisable or necessary in the neglected orchard to remove limbs larger than 1 inches in diameter it Is true that occasionally limbs larger than this will be found growing rn in undesirable places missouri farmer |
