FRUIT GROWING ON THE TRUCKEE-CARSON PROJECT. 



21 



Since the prevailing winds are from the west or southwest, the 

 trees should be planted with the tops inclined slightly toward the 

 southwest. If this is not done, the winds are likely to bend them to 

 the east. 



The symmetry of the trees can also be favorably influenced when 

 pruning by leaving the terminal buds on the branches to the wind- 

 ward side; in other words, the trees should be more closely pruned 

 on the side away from the prevailing winds than on the opposite side. 



PRUNING. 



As soon as the trees are planted they should be pruned back, so 

 that the tops will not be too large for the roots to support. If the 



Fig. 3. — A 2-year-old tree, uncut on the loft, and properly pruned on the right. Such 

 branches; are left as will produce a strong, symmetrical head. 



tree is a 1-year-old whip, it should be cut back to about 18 inches 

 above the ground (fig. 2). Branches will start below this point and 

 only three or four of them should be allowed to grow. 



When 2-year-old trees having a number of branches are set out, 

 the main leader should be cut off and the branches pruned so as to 

 leave three or four branches on different sides of the tree, in order to 

 form a well-shaped, symmetrical head, as shown in figure 3. These 

 branches should not be allowed to branch off from the same point, as 

 shown in figure 4, since the crotch is liable to split when the tree is 

 grown and becomes loaded with fruit. 



If a low branching system is not formed while the trees are young it 

 is usually difficult to prune them so as to get a well -shaped head in 

 later years. Figure 5 illustrates a pear tree which has been allowed 



[Cir. 118.] 



