312 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



Summer pruning is desirable during the third sr-a-son's growth as well 

 as during the two previous seasons. The upright growing tendency of 

 varieties of pears, such as the Bartlett, requires vigilance if it is over- 

 come, and nothing will contribute more to the success of spreading the 

 head than intelligent, careful cutting during the summer time. 



FOURTH AND FIFTH SEASONS. 

 The instructions given for pruning during the first, second and third 

 seasons of growth are designed to develop a tree with strong scaffold 

 branches, thrifty growth, well-balanced head, and wide-.spreading 

 branches possessing sufficient stockiness to hold up a load of fruit with- 

 out danger of breakage and without need of propping. The fourth and 



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Fig. 120. Well-pruned Bartlett pear tree. Fruit on trees of this character 

 can be easily sprayed and easily picked. 



fifth seasons' pruning should be done with the idea of maintaining all 

 these desirable characteristics. It will again be necessary to remove 

 many small, interfering branches, and shortening or heading back 

 should be continued. This should not be carried to the extreme and 

 practically all shortening of branches should be confined to the cutting 

 of one-year-old growth. Upright branches will frequently have to be 

 sacrificed for laterals chosen to develop the spreading type of head. 

 Cutting should be carefully done, and except where cuts are made in 

 one-year-old branches it is best to cut close to a branch in order that 

 there may be no stubs and no wounds that will not heal quickly. Sum- 

 mer pruning during the fourth and fifth seasons' growth will have a 

 tendency to force the development of fruit spurs. This is desirable in 



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