178 



NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



then, we must prune our ambitious little tree back to 

 a "whip," removing all the side branches and cutting 

 off the top to within two or three feet of the ground 



(Fig. 73). 1 As the 

 buds start again we 

 will allow only three 

 or four to grow, 

 being careful that 

 they do not form 

 crotches which may 

 split the tree later 

 on. There will be 

 demurrings, but you 

 have learned what a 

 bud can do, and one 

 strong branch is 

 better than ten 

 weak ones in this 

 stage of the tree's 

 growth. By allowing 



1 This matter of prun- 

 ing back, especially at 

 time of transplanting, is 

 one of great practical 

 importance. Numbers of 

 young trees die yearly, or 

 make little or no growth 

 the first year after trans- 

 planting, solely because 

 this has been neglected. 

 Nurserymen are obliged 

 to deliver unpruned stock because their customers do not know the value 

 of proper pruning. Later on, for lack of it, trees and vines overbear and 

 break down or become worthless by overgrowth of weak branches. 



Fig. 75. Rearing a Peach Tree 



Autumn of fourth year from seed. (Photograph by 



the author) 



