Home › Outdoor Problems of the Householder › Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Plan

Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Plan

Cut these back to a point about 8 inches from the main stem and just above an outside bud, i. e., a bud facing toward the outside of the tree. Cut back the main stem to a point just above the topmost of these branches and remove all other branches and buds. 8 1 6 Plan of tree at planting time. (L. C. Corbett.) 2 Choose branches disposed at equal distances about the main stem or axis of the plant and springing thence at intervals of several inches one above the other. The branches when viewed from above should radiate from the stem like spokes from the hub of a wheel and at about equal angles from one another. Thus all the space will be occupied and a symmetrical development will result. Two or more branches which spring from the trunk side-by-side or opposite to one another, at the same level, must never be allowed to develop. This makes a weak joint which tends to split under pressure when loaded with fruit, or snow, or when twisted by storms.

Some trees such as the elm and silver maple have a tendency to form branches by twos in this manner.

This must be corrected by careful pruning.

OUTDOOR PROBLEMS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER 265 The best orchardists now form the heads of apple, pear and all small fruit trees very low, not over 18 or 20 inches from the ground. Such low lying trees are not only better protected against injury from weather 2 2" 3 2 こり 37 3 Plan of top after one year's growth in the orchard. (L. C. Corbett.) conditions at all seasons. They can also be pruned, sprayed and otherwise cultivated much more cheaply and easily. And a large part of the annual fruit crop can be picked from the ground.