Pruning Peach Trees 181 



useful, especially when there are many large limbs to be 

 removed. 



PRUNING THE FIRST YEAR 



The pruning of a peach tree at the time of planting has 

 already been discussed, A tree in July of its first season's 

 growth in the orchard is shown in Plate XIII. When planted 

 the tree was cut back to the point marked A, making a 

 straight unbranched stem 16 or 18 inches high. It will be 

 observed that the top in this case is formed of four main 

 branches, thus making a symmetrical, nearly ideal tree. 

 Some growers of large experience consider three branches 

 ample for forming the permanent top and much prefer that 

 number to more. The four branches shown in Plate XIII 

 each developed from a bud that was on the trunk when it was 

 planted. The growth now in evidence was all made the first 

 season, after planting and prior to the last of July. Consid- 

 erable more growth was doubtless made before the end of 

 the season. It will be observed that the limbs are already 

 branching to some extent. 



However, the exact number of branches w^hich may be 

 used in forming the head is not arbitrary. From three to 

 five on the smaller growing sorts are permissible, if they are 

 well placed and properly distributed on the main stem of the 

 tree. The branches that form the head of the tree shown 

 in Plate XIII (bottom) start from points fairly well dis- 

 tributed along the trunk, but if there was more space ver- 

 tically, that is up and down the trunk, between the branches 

 where they join the trunk, there would be less danger of their 

 breaking down in later years from the weight of heavy loads 

 of fruit. 



A tree that has been started and formed in a manner similar 



