208 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



are thought not to be stiff enough, this manner 

 of trimming may be used to good advantage. 

 The main shoot should usually be headed -back in 

 this as in all styles of trimming, in order to make 

 the trunk stocky. 



"The second method aims to start the top at 

 the required height when the tree is planted. It 

 is adapted only to strong and well grown stocks 

 which have a more or less branching and forking 

 top. From three to five of the best branches are 

 left, and these are headed -back to a few buds 

 each. Fig. 130 shows a pear tree, trimmed in 

 Fig. 131, and the illustration may be considered 

 to represent a good example of its class. Many 

 of our best planters prefer the spur system for 

 all trees, and there are some who would trim all 

 newly set trees to a straight whip; but there is 

 much to be said for both methods. 



"It may be said in general, then, that peach 

 trees and all small or slender trees, should be 

 well headed-back and spurred (Fig. 129); but 

 that strong, well -branched trees may have the 

 head started at the desired height at the time of 

 setting, all the branches being well headed -back 

 (Figs. 130 and 131). Fig. 132 shows a small 

 plum tree cut to spurs, and the roots have also 

 been properly dressed. Figs. 133 and 134 show 

 second-class apple trees. In these the tops are 

 not well formed, and it might be best to trim to 

 a whip, allowing the branches A to become the 



