Show horticultural hints 00 PROPER PRUNING FOR APPLE abt A tree gradually Be becomes tornes older treatment decreases in severity and changes change in kind the general pruning treatment recommended om for apple trees Is stated briefly as follows by V R gardner of the university ot of Misso missouri url college of 0 agriculture in circular 90 during the first few years ot of a trees life in the alie orchard it should be pruned se it starting artIng out with perhaps a 75 per cent pruning and tills this should consist in both thinning out and heading back with perhaps the emphasis emp hasla ui upon on the heading back this heavy pruning Is for the purpose of encouraging wood growth and developing the frame framework mork of 0 the tree As the tree becomes older pruning gradually decreases in severity until at six or seven years when it Is reaching bear ing age and size very little pruning Is I 1 necessary and as it gradually lessons lessens in severity it gradually changes in idila consisting less and less in heading back and more in thinning out this general method ot of procedure serves to develop a fruit spur system and bring the tree into bearing atter after the tree Is once in bearing pruning gradually increases in amount but continues to be mainly a thinning out and this thinning out should consist in a removal of a few large limbs when this plan la Is followed there la Is so some me thinning of 0 fruit spurs and the fruit crop overbearing over bearing Is prevented and the length of life regularity of 0 bearing and efficiency of individual fruit spurs Is promoted ordinarily pruning Is done at some time in the dormant season after most of the leaves are off in the fall and before the buds open in the spring doubtless this is the best time of the year for most pruning the tree la is bare and it Is easier tor for the pruner to I 1 see what hat lie he Is doing and choose more intelligently between limbs that should be removed and those that should be left there Is more apt ant to 40 4 ifft 4 J 4 I 1 N I 1 1 M N x xa well pruned apple tree three years old be time for the work than burh during tho the growing season probably it is better to prune while the tissues of the treo tree are not frozen aa there ia 19 less apt to be mechanical injury to them from bruising splitting etc certain specific objects may be accomplished by summer pruning but it la Is necessary that the summer pruning be timed just rig it and that particular care le be tak en if those objects are to be attained at least in case of tile apple it Is believed that summer pruning should be ba attempted only by tile professional grower who Is prepared to rooke a careful study of the subject |