116 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



of bearing" wood ; for regulation of amount of bearing wood ; for rela- 

 tive light and shade, and for convenience in cultivation and other 

 orchard work. Naturally, these ends are sought according to the needs 

 and habits of different fruits, and the methods of attaining them will 

 be discussed in the chapters treating of these fruits. There are, how- 

 ever, certain general considerations which are proper in this connec- 

 tion: 



Pruning during the dormancy of the tree induces greater growth 

 of wood during the following summer ; pruning during the active period 

 reduces wood growth and promotes fruit-bearing. The amount of 

 wood removed during the dormant period will make the summer growth 



Yearling peach. Cut back at planting. 



First summer's growth in the 

 orchard. 



These sketches, and those en pages 118 and 119, represent the progress of the peach 

 tree from a branched yearling to bearing form entering the third summer. 



of wood proportionately stronger. Whether the total weight of wood 

 growth would be greater may be questioned, but the effective wood 

 growth is certainly greater. Whether the feet of new wood grown on 

 a peach tree cut back to stumps in the winter would be greater in weight 

 than all the inches of growth which would be scattered all over the sur- 

 face of the tree if not cut back, may be doubted, but the new growth 

 secured by cutting back will be of immense vigor, and the following 

 year will bear large fruit, while the new growth on the tree not cut 

 back will be thin and short and the fruit absent or indifferent. The 

 weaker the tree or the branch or the twig of the tree, the greater part 

 of it to be removed when dormant to get the stronger new growth. 



