How TO PRINK THE PKACII 1093 



I'Kl .\IN<; OK OLD TKKF.S 



After the peach has been growing from eight to ten years in 

 the orchard, the trees may carry a considerable amount of weak 

 growth or have become too small to spray and harvest easily, 

 especially if the annual pruning has been neglected for one year. 

 In such a case 1 severe cutting back of all branches during the 

 dormant season will result in a new and vigorous top growth that 

 will extend the commercial life of the orchard. Under such cir- 

 cumstances the pruning should extend into the three- and four- 

 year-old wood. Trees are sometimes cut back almost to the trunk, 

 leaving short stubs of branches that may be four inches or more in 

 diameter. Such a severe practice is seldom productive of the best 

 results. 



QUALITY OF THE PRUNING WORK 



It appears hardly necessary to emphasize the fact that the 

 thoroughness with which pruning is done determines the value 

 of the work and that all large branches should be cut off smoothly, 

 since dead or dying branches and stubs form breeding places for 

 bark beetles and other orchard enemies. Trees of medium size in 

 full bearing can generally be pruned at the rate of from four to six 

 trees an hour, this operation including the cutting back of the 

 branches. Trees with low tops can be pruned .with shears, but 

 large trees make the use of the hand, or pole, pruner necessary 

 in order to do the work rapid'y without a stepladder. 



During the dormant season all pruning should be completed be- 

 fore spraying for scale and leaf curl begins, since it reduces the 

 amount of time and material required for the work. Branches and 

 twigs cut off in pruning should be gathered together and burned 

 in order to prevent the spread of insects and diseases and to clear 

 the orchard of material that will interfere with the work of 

 spraying and cultivation. 



