Pruning Peach Trees 187 



in directing the form of the top, even more than at the first 

 dormant pruning. In case of a tree that tends to grow very 

 upright, the cuts made in heading back should be at such 

 points that the topmost bud on each limb is on the outer side. 

 In the same way, in heading back a tree that naturally spreads 

 too much, the limbs should be cut off in heading back where 

 the topmost bud will be on the inside. The resulting tend- 

 encies of a tree with regard to the spread of the top can be 

 very materially influenced in this way, since usually the branch 

 which develops from the topmost bud is the strongest and vir- 

 tually takes the place of the '"leader" that has been cut off. 



PRUNING THE THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS 



Pruning following the third season's growth does not 

 differ greatly from that of a year previous. However, the 

 tree may have borne a little fruit the third year. If the 

 conditions are favorable, it ought to bear a paying crop the 

 fourth season. Up to this time the pruning has been directed 

 especially toward the growing of a strong stocky tree that 

 would sustain the weight of a large crop of fruit. If this 

 has been well done, the pruning from now on will be directed 

 more to fruit production. One of the governing facts which is 

 of fundamental importance is that the peach always produces 

 fruit on wood of the previous season's growth and the fruit- 

 buds form also in the previous season. It, therefore, follows 

 that removing a portion of the growth made the season be- 

 fore has the effect of thinning the crop. While some head- 

 ing back will be necessary nearly every year, it should be done 

 largely with a view to the prospective crop. 



For this reason orchardists sometimes delay pruning as 

 late in the spring as possible, especially if there have been 



