Pruning Peach Trees 185 



and that better results are ultimately seeured if the heading 

 back at this first dormant pruning is not more than eight 

 inches to a foot even where the growth is fairly vigorous. 

 Some heading back is necessary, however, else the stocky 

 symmetrical growth desired will not be secured. 



PRUNING THE SECOND YEAR 



The tree starts its second season's growth well established 

 in the orchard. The branches left on the tree when pruned 

 during its preceding dormant period, with their attendant 

 buds, furnish the potential possibilities of a large growth and 

 the development of many branches the second season. Every 

 bud is a potential branch. Usually it is only the buds 

 towards the outer extremities of the limbs that actually 

 develop secondary branches of importance in the future of 

 the tree. It is because of this characteristic in the develop- 

 ment of the secondary branches that heading back becomes 

 such an essential operation in making a tree stocky and 

 mechanically strong. * 



Because of the large number of side or secondary branches 

 that will develop the second season and the crowding in the 

 top which results therefrom, more summer pruning can be 

 done the second year than was advisable the first summer 

 when the tree was just getting firmly established after trans- 

 planting to its permanent location. Not much heading back 

 should be done, however, after the last of June. If thinning 

 out of superfluous growth seems advisable to admit sunlight 

 and air, it may receive attention somewhat later in the 

 season than is advisable for the heading back. 



It is in the second season usually that the growi:h charac- 

 teristics, if there be any, of different varieties become pro- 



