Pruning Peach Trees 191 



While, perhaps, in pruning the tree shown in Plate XIV 

 (bottom) not enough attention has been given to developing 

 a large bearing surface throughout the top, it does show, on 

 the other hand, an exceptionally good skeleton plan of form- 

 ing a desirable top. 



The preceding discussion of pruning has been directed 

 toward the development of a "vase form" tree. Another 

 method of pruning to a vase form used in California to some 

 extent and locally called the "Sims' method," after the one 

 who originated it, is described as follows : ^ 



"The trees are cut back to eighteen inches at planting, 

 and at the first winter's pruning four or five of the most up- 

 right growing branches are left to form the head. These are 

 cut to a uniform height and as great a length as the season's 

 growth will allow. On a vigorous tree this will be about six 

 feet. All laterals are removed from these. 



"The second winter retain one strong upright branch 

 emerging from near the end of each branch of previous 

 season's growth, and remove all laterals from the tree larger 

 than a lead pencil. Top these main branches at a uniform 

 height of ten or twelve feet from the ground according to the 

 growth made. Sometimes a lateral is allowed to grow from 

 one of these main limbs to fill in an open space in the outline 

 of the tree. At the end of the second winter's pruning we 

 have a low-headed tree with four or five main branches 

 ten or twelve feet long and so upright that the tree is only 

 six or seven feet across the top. Enough small laterals are 

 left for abundant shade. After this each season remove all 

 large laterals leaving only the small fruiting wood and cut 

 this back to the required amount." 



1 Monthly Bull. Calif. State Com. of Hort., Vol. Ill, No. 3, 

 March, 1914, pp. 146-147. 



