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STAlTE BOARD OF AQRICULTUiRE 



to the sun, and scald results. In some orchards the bark on the larger 

 branches has been killed fully one-third the way around the branch. Again, 

 water sprouts usually develop in profusion following such heavy cutting 

 back. 



It is usually possible to reduce the height of these tops by cutting back 

 some of the upright branches, some three or four to seven or eight years in 

 growth, to a side branch. Again, the remaining side branches may be 

 shortened somewhat. Such measures usually bring the tops of the trees five 

 to ten feet nearer the ground, and are not especially detrimental to the tree 

 as a whole. This cutting, however, often induces wood growth, which should 

 be removed in later years. If an old tree has produced little growth in the 

 top, but the top is too high, two or three years should be taken to lower it. 



Figure 23. Near view of some scaffold branches showing the total absence of fruiting wood within 

 a radius of ten feet of the head of the tree. This portion of the tree should be utiUzed for fruit pro- 

 duction. 



Distribution and Re-estahlishment of Fruiting Wood — A scaffold branch 

 should have several good lateral branches well spaced along its entire length, 

 each lateral supporting its share of fruiting wood. Such a tree can support 

 a given load to better advantage and carry a much larger crop of fruit. When 

 pruning the young tree always leave fruiting wood, if it is located where it 

 will have a chance to develop. The tree will fruit earlier and heavier. Bear- 

 ing orchards are frequently seen in which trees have been stripped of all fruit- 

 ing wood except near the ends of the branches. In other words, all the fruit 

 is borne out on the ends of the branches instead of being distributed through- 

 out the tree. In many trees there is no fruiting wood within a radius of 

 fifteen or even more feet from the trunk of the tree. Fruiting wood may be de- 



