184 Peach-Growing 



branches are left as described on page 90. The top at the 

 next winter pruning consists, therefore, of whatever growth 

 has developed during the growing period save such as may 

 have been removed in summer pruning. 



The limbs that are to make the permanent top must, there- 

 fore, now be selected. Three or four limbs well placed on 

 the stem and of uniform size, thus making a well-balanced 

 top, should be selected from those that have developed. If 

 it is assumed that the four limbs which make the top of the 

 tree in Plate XIII continued to be as symmetrical through- 

 out the season as shown in the figure, they would be nearly 

 ideal for the making of the permanent frame of the top. The 

 tree in Fig. 10 also possesses the foundation of a good top, as 

 may be seen in Fig. 11, but as previously stated the tree 

 would probably have been better ultimately if the final shap- 

 ing had been delayed until it was dormant. 



Having decided on the branches that are to form the per- 

 manent top, all others should be removed. If the frame 

 branches have developed so many side branches that they are 

 likely to fill up the center and make it too dense, some of them 

 should be removed. From the very beginning, the top should 

 be so pruned that it is kept open to sunlight and air. At this 

 time, too, the main branches, and perhaps also the stronger 

 growing side limbs, should usually be headed back somewhat. 

 This will tend to make them stocky. How much they should 

 be headed back is an open question. The rule commonly 

 given where the growth has been fairly strong is to cut 

 back the main limbs from one-half to two-thirds of their 

 length, that is of the previous season's growth. The question 

 is, however, whether anything is to be gained by such heavy 

 cutting back. There is a conviction on the part of many with 

 wide experience that the common practice has been extreme, 



