How TO PRUNE THE PEACH 



1089 



at all. It should first be determined how such pruning will affect 

 the development of the tree. An upright growing variety tends to 

 make a high-topped tree that is easily broken by heavy crops of 

 fruit, if the leading branches are not cut back and the bearing sur- 

 face becomes higher from 

 the ground each year. On 

 the other hand, a flat-top- 

 ped variety may become too 

 spreading and flat if al- 

 lowed to grow without any 

 cutting back of the tips of 

 branches. A slight cutting 

 back of the tips of the main 

 branches of a one-year-old 

 tree tends to make the top 

 more compact, causes the 

 leaders to form more sec- 

 ondary branches, and re- 

 sults in a stronger tree that 

 is less subject to breakage. 

 Too severe a cutting back of 

 the main branches, how- 

 ever, causes a thick, vigorous twig growth that is undesirable and 

 delays fruiting. 



The following statements may be followed for guidance : 



1. A well-formed, compact, one-year-old tree,* (Fig. 341) 

 should receive only a slight cutting back of from six to ten inches 

 on each leader to the first good side branch. 



2. Certain trees are poorly balanced, having a long branch on 

 one side and a short branch on the other. In such a case the short 

 branch should be cut little if at all, while the long branch should 

 be cut severely enough nearly to balance the tree. 



3. Occasional trees may form a single shoot growing irregularly 

 or perhaps without side branches. Such a branch, or shoot, 

 should be cut back to the point where one desires the head or 

 main branches of the tree to form. 



FIG. 343. ONE-YEAR-OLD TREE BE- 

 FORE PRUNING 



* The term " one-year-old " is applied to trees that have made one season's 

 growth in the orchard. 



