396 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



PRUNING THE PLUMS 



European Plum — The type of training recommended for apple trees is in 

 general satisfactory for the European plums. They may, however, be headed 

 slightly lower. Also less cutting should usually be practiced because of the 

 strong tendency of some varieties to produce excessive growth. 



Figure 37. A vigorous three-year-old European plum before and after pruning. It is being devel 

 oped as a modified leader tree. Note relative amounts of heading back for the leader and other branches 



Heavy heading-back of bearing European plums may result in high trees 

 with dense tops; hence, heading back, when advisable, should be light. The 

 general treatment of bearing plums should be such as will invigorate the 

 spurs, keep the tops properly thinned out and in good shape, and prevent 

 crossing and interfering branches. Thus, thinning about the outer parts of 



