PRUNING THE APRICOT 311 



ground, the others in such a manner as to divide the space 

 and make the branches balance, leaving the top shoot to 

 form the central part of the tree. It will be necessary to 

 go over the trees several times the first year to remove 

 shoots that may start where not wanted, but no general 

 heading-back should be done, as it tends to dwarf the 

 tree; though if some of the limbs are making an over- 

 growth they should be pinched -back to keep the head 

 balanced. 



"The pruning for the second year should be done in 

 January, as the tree will not be dormant until then, if it 

 has been kept in a thrifty condition. The first year's 

 growth should be cut back to within five to ten inches of 

 the body of the tree, and all forks should be cut out, even 

 if it necessitates forming a new head, as it is much better 

 to lose some growth on a young tree than to take the risk 

 of splitting down when the tree begins to bear fruit. 



"When the shoots start for the second year's growth, 

 take off all that come on the under side of the limbs and 

 thin to one, two or three, as may be needed to balance 

 the tree, bearing in mind that an apricot tree always 

 inclines toward the coast breezes in this locality. The 

 second year will require much more attention than the first 

 year, in order to keep off suckers and all lateral growth 

 that may start on the under side of the new limbs, the 

 object being to make the limbs grow as near upright as 

 possible. The remark on heading -back holds good for the 

 second year also. 



"The trees will become dormant earlier the second year 

 than they did the first, but should not be trimmed earlier 

 than December and a month later is preferable, as the 

 ends of the limbs are not exposed to the drying winds so 

 long before the sap begins to flow and consequently will 

 heal over better. The second year's growth should now 

 be cut back to within fifteen to twenty inches of the old 

 wood, except the central stem, which may be left twenty- 



