384 



STATE BOAjRD OF AiGRICULTUiRE 



PRUNING THE PEACH 



After planting, the peach tree should be headed at a height of from twelve 

 to twenty inches — fifteen is a good average. Some growers prefer to have the 

 head just above the surface of the ground, but where trees are headed lower 

 than twelve inches considerable difficult}^ is experienced in removing borers. 

 Heading at 20 to 26 inches, as practiced by some growers, has no material 

 advantages and increases the cost of pruning and harvesting. If the tree 

 has a few side branches when it comes from the nursery, they should not 

 greatly influence the height of heading. If they occur above the point of the 

 desired head, the straight, branchless tree or whip will develop side branches 

 that may be utilized as scaffolds. If side branches have developed from 

 points below the height of head, four or five of them may be saved and headed 

 back to from two to five inches each. 



Figure 25. The secondary branches of one- 

 year-old nursery peach trees may be cut back to 

 stubs as shown; or they may be entirely re- 

 moved, thus reducing the newly planted tree to 

 a straight whip. 



Figure 26. A one-year-old peach tree after 

 pruning. Note that the four scaffold branches are 

 cut back to about the same height. 



Form of Tree — The open head type of tree has been almost universally ac- 

 cepted as the best for commercial purposes. This results in a low, wide- 

 spreading tree in which practically all the work may be done by men standing 

 on the ground or on low stepladders, makes possible the production of a good 

 supply of vigorous fruiting wood throughout the center and along the main 

 branches, and admits sunlight and permits a circulation of air, thus insuring 

 well colored fruit. 



First Year — After the tree has made a season's growth, from three to five 

 scaffolds, or main branches, should be chosen with a distance of two or more 



