I I(NV 



PKMM-: TIIK PKACII 



1085 



Certain definite rules and some general ones can be given, how- 

 ever, for the pruning of peach trees in moderation, which will 

 insure success if applied with judgment to meet the conditions of 

 varietv and location. 



PRUXIXG OF NURSERY TREES AT TIME OF PLANTING 



When purchased from the nursery one-year-old peach trees con- 

 sist of a straight whip with few or numerous side branches, accord- 

 ing to the vigor of the tree (Fig. 340). All experienced fruit 



FIG. 340. VIGOROUS ONE-YEAR-OLD NUR- 

 SERY TREE AT LEFT; SLENDER ONE-YEAR- 

 OLD TREE AT RIGHT; JUNE BUD IN 

 CENTER 



growers admit that the trees should be cut back severely at time 

 of planting, but opinion differs as to whether the head of the tree 

 should be formed at 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 inches from the ground. 

 The assertion that the more severely the tree is cut back at time of 

 planting the easier it will be to gather the fruit, has little basis of 

 fact. It is impossible to obtain first-class fruit in quantity on 

 secondary side branches that start out within less than three feet 

 from the ground. Trees that branch freely at the surface of the 



