SETTING THE ORCHARD AND CARING FOR IT 153 



top, because in digging up the young trees probably more than 

 half of the roots were left in the ground. There will not be 

 enough roots, therefore, to supply food and moisture for the 

 large number of leaves that will come on the top if it is left 

 unpruned. The top should be cut back more than the roots 

 have been reduced. Some growers cut off all the branches 

 and leave the young tree as a single straight stem; others 

 cut the branches back a good deal, depending upon the age 

 of the tree. The first method is probably better for peaches 

 and the last better for the other tree fruits. In the last 

 method the head, or top, is started at once, while by the 

 first, one waits until the second year to start the head. 



The head is started at various distances from the ground, 

 depending upon the climate. In cold climates the head is 

 formed so that the lower branches are only two or three feet 

 from the ground, while in warmer regions it may be much 

 higher. The low head is more convenient when the fruit is to 

 be picked, but the high heads are more easily worked around 

 in cultivating. In shaping the head of the tree care should be 

 taken not to have two limbs starting from the same place on 

 the stem. Such a condition forms a crotch and when the tree 

 is heavy with fruit, the limbs are apt to split apart there. 



After the head is started the young trees should be pruned 

 carefully each year. Usually not much will have to be cut off 

 at one time. Such limbs as will not give the shape desired 

 should be removed, and when there are too many limbs some 

 must be cut out. If the tree is growing too fast the longer 

 limbs are cut back. This is called heading in and is much 

 practised by some who wish to keep the heads of their trees 

 small and compact. Usually, however, care should be taken 

 that the heads do not become too thick. Limbs should be 



