186 Peach-Growing 



nounced. Plate XIV (top) shows an Elberta tree in its second 

 season in the orchard. The rather open spreading habit of 

 growth is well defined. Probably but little heading back of 

 the main limbs was done the winter before since they are rather 

 slender, yet they are branching well. As the top is made up 

 of only four scaffold or frame limbs, and these are spreading 

 well, the top has not thus far become excessively dense. 

 Some pinching back of a portion of the terminal growths 

 should be done to keep the tree symmetrical, following which 

 a little later some thinning out of side branches may be 

 necessary. Pinching back would tend to induce a stronger 

 growth of the side branches. The flat-topped, rather open- 

 growing varieties like Greensboro, Waddell, and Smock w^ill 

 not be as likely to need summer pruning as some of the more 

 upright dense-growing sorts like Stump, Late Crawford, and 

 others. 



The dormant pruning following the second season's growth 

 will not differ in kind from that which was done the winter 

 preceding. Enough thinning out of the side branches should 

 be done to open the top well and such heading back of the 

 growth made the previous summer as is necessary to keep the 

 tree within bounds and to prevent the main limbs from be- 

 coming "leggy" and getting out of reach. Perhaps a larger 

 proportion of the new growth will need to be cut off in head- 

 ing back at this time than was done the year before. How- 

 ever, discretion which is largely the outgrowth of experience, 

 is necessary in the heading back at this time. If too severe, 

 it will tend to retard bearing. If not heavy enough, the 

 branches will soon become too long as above stated. The 

 wise balancing of the two aims is the test of the pruner's skill. 



In pruning at this time also, that is the dormant pruning 

 after the second season's growth, care needs to be exercised 



