PRUNING THE PEACH 



PROFESSOR M. A. BLAKE 

 Horticulturist, New Jersey Experiment Station, New Brunswick, N. J. 



Pruning has undoubtedly been a subject of discussion since the 

 early days of fruit production, and yet opinion differs widely as 

 to the best practice. The reasons for this are the variations in 

 habit of growth of different varieties of the same kind of fruit in 

 the same locality, variations in habit of growth of the same variety 

 in different localities, variations in soil and climatic conditions, 

 and fads in pruning. Some persons assert that pruning is purely 

 an art, others that it is strictly a science, and yet when most suc- 

 cessfully practiced it is really science and art combined. 



In order to improve and insure the mechanical strength of the 

 tree, the operation should not differ greatly anywhere, while in 

 order to secure a uniform distribution of the fruit-bearing sur- 

 face the same general plan should be followed in most cases. The 

 severity of the pruning and the degree to which twigs and leading 

 branches should be cut back calls for judgment on the part of each 

 grower, however. It is commonly recognized that rate and vigor 

 of growth directly affect the size and the color of the fruit, and the 

 rate of growth is of course affected by the severity of the pruning. 

 An expert grower estimates the amount of pruning necessary each 

 season in order to obtain the best results year by year. It requires 

 experience, good judgment, and an intimate knowledge of vari- 

 eties and their habits of growth. For example, in order to obtain 

 fruit of large size, the Hiley peach requires more severe pruning 

 when it comes into full bearing than does the Elberta. The actual 

 amount of wood growth pruned off in any one season, therefore, 

 should be varied according to the amount of growth made by the 

 trees. It is here that the ability of the fruit grower is fully tested. 



There are many fads in pruning that affect the form of the 

 tree slightly and yet have little or no economic importance as 

 regards the size and quality of the crop. There are also extremes 

 in pruning that decrease the yields and sometimes injure the trees. 



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