Pruning Peach Trees 201 



possibly in the more northern districts where growth is 

 comparatively late in starting, when a somewhat later date 

 may be necessary. 



To quote Blake again in summarizing this phase of prun- 

 ing : "Summer pruning, then, may be said to consist of 

 two distinct operations : The thinning of the new growth 

 including the removal of any water sprouts or suckers, and 

 the pinching back of leading, rapidly-growing shoots. 



*' Both operations are usually necessary in summer pruning 

 peach trees that are growing rapidly the second summer. 

 The simple pinching back of the tips of the most vigorous 

 shoots results in making the tree more dense and compact, 

 which is the exact thing we wish to avoid. In general, then, 

 where pinching back is practiced some thinning of shoots is 

 also necessary. The exception may occur with a very open 

 spreading type of tree with but little growth in the center, 

 where pinching back will simply check the sprawling or very 

 upright form of the growth without causing the center to 

 become dense. 



"Varieties like Greensboro and Waddell require but little 

 thinning when summer pruned under most conditions in New 

 Jersey. On the other hand, such sorts as INIountain Rose, 

 Early Crawford, Niagara, Reeve's Favorite, and Stump form 

 dense, thick tops if pinched back without any thinning of the 

 new growth. The amount of thinning necessary will also 

 depend considerably upon the character of the pruning the 

 previous spring. Where the trees were severely cut back 

 there will be the necessity of more thinning of new growth 

 than upon unpruned trees, as the pruning in the former case 

 will have induced a more vigorous development of new shoots. 

 In other words, the cutting back of a leader in the dormant 

 season will result in the development of two or more vigorous 



