214 Peach-Growing 



only partially renewed. If the tops are cut back to wood that 

 is not more than three or four years old, a stronger, more 

 symmetrical growth may be expected than when the stubs left 

 in deheading are older than the age mentioned. When the 

 bark looks bright and smooth where a limb is cut off, it will 

 generally put out new growth ; but if it is dull and rough, it 

 may not be possible for adventitious buds to form from which 

 new growth can develop. Hence the results will be like those 

 shown in Plate XXII {left). Occasionally, when the trunk 

 remains sound and retains its vigor, the tops are renewed 

 two or three times. Plate XXII {right) shows a tree that 

 has been deheaded three times. As a rule, hoT\^ver, it is 

 impracticable to dehead for renewal more than once. 



Sometimes, when for any reason it is desirable to renew 

 the top of a comparatively young tree, the heading back may 

 be made much more severe than that suggested by Figs. 17 

 and Plate XXII. This is shown in Plate XXI {left) where 

 all the branches have been cut back to the trunk of the 

 tree. 



The season for deheading to renew the top is the same as 

 that for the annual pruning for the shaping of the trees and 

 the removal of superfluous wood. 



Before leaving this phase of pruning it should be stated 

 that it is a radical method of treatment. For reasons which 

 may be local and not readily explained, some peach growers 

 have not had satisfactory results from this method of re- 

 juvenating or restoring peach trees, the trees failing to grow 

 well after being deheaded. Therefore, it may be wise for 

 the grower located in a region where deheading has not 

 been practiced to resort to it rather cautiously until its 

 practicability under his conditions has been adequately 

 tested. 



