46 APPLE GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



CHAPTER VII. 



PRUNING. 



CUTTING BACK THE YOUNG TREE WHEN SET. 



It has already been said that a one-year-old whip is the best tree to 

 plant. Such should be cut back when planted, because of the damage 

 which has resulted to the root system in digging and the consequent 

 disturbance of the balance between root system and top. The root 

 hairs, the function of which is to take up the plant food in solution 

 from the soil, have been practically all destroyed, and new ones must 

 be formed before the tree can be supplied by the roots. It is conse- 

 quently dependent, in starting at first, principally upon the stored-up 

 plant food in the top and must grow for a short time, at least, almost 

 independently of root action. This being the case, the less top that 

 there is the better chance will the root system have to make a rapid 

 recovery and renewal of root hairs. The height at which this one-year- 

 old tree should be left will depend upon the distance from the ground 

 that it is desired to make the head. The tendency now is to head trees 

 as low as possible, and still not interfere with cultivation of the orchard. 

 The writer can see no good reason for heading apple trees more than 

 twenty inches above the surface of the ground. This gives enough 

 trunk for a beautiful, shapely tree, and if later pruning is properly 

 done there will be no trouble about cultivation. As the first pruning 

 may largely determine the height of head, a short discussion on the 

 advantages of a low-headed tree will not be out of place here. 



LOW HEADING. 



In California, as well as practically every place where apples are 

 grown, there are times when the sun is very hot and sun scald of the 

 bark may take place to the great detriment of the trees. Such injury 

 makes a favorite place for the flat-headed or so-called sun-borers to 

 gain entrance and do their work of destruction. Knowing this, is there 

 any good reason for leaving a great high trunk, very often unprotected 

 in any way, exposed to the action of the sun ? The destruction wrought 

 by sun scald and its attendant borers in California is so great that low- 

 heading of trees can not be too strongly recommended. 



Most of our orchards are set out for commercial purposes and it is 

 expected that the income from them will be a good one. As in every 

 other business, it is necessary to keep down expenses to the minimum in 

 order to make good profits. The cost of picking fruit is greatly 

 increased when it is necessary to climb tall ladders to get it. 



A certain height of head having been decided upon at planting time, 

 we will say twenty inches for the purpose of illustration, as well as 



