1090 



THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK STATE 



From the foregoing discussion it will be seen that severe cutting 

 back of one-year-old trees is permissible only in the case of irreg- 

 ular and poorly formed trees. It is advisable, however, at least to 

 cut off the terminal bud on the main branches of even, well- 

 formed trees. 



PRUNING DURING THE SECOND AND THIRD YEARS 



In some cases summer pruning may be of great value in secur- 

 ing well-formed trees without resorting to severe winter pruning. 



At the close of the first sea- 

 son's growth irregular trees 

 may have required severe 

 pruning, and this may induce 

 the production of numerous 

 shoots and suckers, many of 

 which are not desired and 

 cause the top of the tree to 

 become too dense. When the 

 trees first begin to make 



growth 



FIG. 344. ONE-YEAR-OLD TREE 

 AFTER PRUNING. TIPS OF 

 BRANCHES SHOULD BE CUT BACK 

 SLIGHTLY. 



in early spring, such 

 extra shoots can be quickly 

 rubbed off with the fingers; 

 much time can thus be saved 

 in pruning later. The severe 

 thinning out of twigs and 

 shoots in midsummer is not 

 recommended, however. In 

 case the suckers were not 



rubbed off as they formed, summer pruning might be practiced to 

 remove them as late as July, but the work should have been done 

 previously as the shoots form. 



If a young tree is making an irregular growth, the tips of 

 leading shoots may be pinched off not later than July, and a 

 better-branched top may thus be obtained. A general clipping, or 

 cutting back, of the shoots of well-formed trees is not recommended 

 in summer, however, nor is pruning advisable after the third 

 summer when the tops of all trees should be well formed. 



