Hints on the Planting of Orchards. 



251 



trimming may be used to good advantage. The main shoot 

 should usually be headed back in this as in all styles of trimming, 

 in order to make the trunk stocky. 



The second method aims to start the top at the required height 

 when the tree is planted. It is adapted only to strong and well 

 grown stocks which have a more or less 

 branching and forking top. From three 

 to five of the best branches are left, and 

 these are headed back to a few buds each. 

 Fig. 3 shows a pear tree, trimmed in 

 Fig. 4, and the illustration may be 

 considered to represent a good example 

 of its class. Many of our best planters 



prefer the spur system 



for all trees, and there 



are some who would 



trim all newly set trees 



to a straight whip ; 



but there is much to 



be said for this last 



method, and I have 



used it many years 



with uniform success. 

 It may be said in 



general, then, that 



peach trees and small 



or slender trees should 



be well headed back 



and spurred (Figs, i, 



2); but that strong, 



well branched trees 



may have the head 

 started at the desired height at the time of setting, all the branches 

 being well headed back (Fig. 3 and 4). 



The trees may be trimmed before they are planted, although I 

 prefer to do it just after they are set, especiall}- if the tree is 

 trimmed after the method of Fig. 4, for one can then better esti- 

 mate the proper height, the operation is easier done, and there, is^ 



3- 



4. Pear tree prjined. 



Three year old Pear 

 tree. 



