I/O Jouiiial of AgricnUnrc, yici(^ria. [lo March, 1912. 



Before practising this operation a tliorough knowledge of the varieties 

 and their habit of growth is necessary, the climatic conditions of the 

 district, and the action of the soil with regard to growth. When per- 

 formed upon unsuitable varieties short stunted growths are generally en- 

 couraged. Such growths are unsuitable to prune upon. With varieties 

 that are suitable and branch freely of their own accord, topping will 

 need to be restricted. Only those buds growing freely and strongly 

 should be operated upon, e.g., take the Jonathan apple under favorable 

 conditions. Growing buds of this variety branch freelv and strongly, 

 yet there are many buds of this variety unsuitable for topping to be found 

 in the nursery row. Those with a weak tendency should be left un- 

 tojjped. If operated upon, weakly branch growth is encouraged. 



Almonds, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums (Japanese and 

 cherry) should be topped when the buds have made about 16 to t8 in. 



66. TOPPING AND TRIMMING. 

 <i. Uiitre.itod. b. Result of cnrrect treatment. 



of growth. This check will be the means of causing the rapidly ascend- 

 ing sap to excite the buds upon the stem into strong branch growths. 

 These growths will be dealt with when trimming. Fig. 66b shows the 

 result of topping a growing peach bud in October. The bud was 

 trimmed in early November, and photographed late in the same month. 

 This young tree is of sound tvpe. Fig. 66a shows a growing peach bud 

 untopped carrying thin and weakly branch growths. Compare this with 

 Fig. 66b which is the same age. the same variety (Hale's early), and 

 w^orked upon the same kind of stock and growdng in the same row. 

 Cherries, if not branching of their own accord, should not be topped to 

 force them to do so. 



Fig. 67A shows a strong voung apple-bud growing and branching 

 freely, the variety is Rome Beauty. By topping such a type, and re- 

 moving the lower branch growths, the terminal buds will break, making 



