. The encyclopedia of practical horticulture; a reference system of commercial horticulture, covering the practical and scientific phases of horticulture, with special reference to fruits and vegetables;. Gardening; Fruit-culture; Vegetable gardening. 274 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE therefore, less exposed surface that is subject to disease, injuries by accident, etc. 2. There is less energy required to car- ry food from the root system to the top and from the top system to the root, and as the railroad man would say, there is less expense and less friction in the shorter haul. The
. The encyclopedia of practical horticulture; a reference system of commercial horticulture, covering the practical and scientific phases of horticulture, with special reference to fruits and vegetables;. Gardening; Fruit-culture; Vegetable gardening. 274 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE therefore, less exposed surface that is subject to disease, injuries by accident, etc. 2. There is less energy required to car- ry food from the root system to the top and from the top system to the root, and as the railroad man would say, there is less expense and less friction in the shorter haul. The trunk of a tree is a circulatory system, a kind of common carrier that exchanges the products of one part of the tree for the products of another. 3. There is no extra sap required for the support of a longer body, and there- fore the extra energy that would be re- quired to support the extra length of body goes into the branches. 4. It is easier to pick the fruit from a tree with a low top than from one that is higher in the air. It is easier to prune and to spray. When the fruit falls from the top of a low tree it is less likely to damage and bruise in falling, and there- fore there is less waste. Our observaT tions lead us to the conclusion that the trees are almost always healthier, and this is shown in the fact that they grow more vigorously and produce more fruit. 5. There is another reason in favor of low heading that is worthy of considera- tion, and that is, thlit trees are bent by force of the wind currents and the taller trees bend more than the lower ones. Often great damage is done in this way, especially to trees that are heavily loaded with fruit so that the center of gravity is beyond the base. Trees are sometimes broken in this way. Much less damage is done from this cause to trees with low tops. There are advantages on the other side, for experience teaches us that it is more difficult to cultivate among trees that have been headed low, but this can be largely
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