THE COMMON VASE FORM 



117 



In the case of fruit trees in vigorous growth pruning during the 

 active period or allowing the wood to go uncut during the dormant 

 period, having the same effect, viz., the promotion of fruiting. Some 

 trees, like apricots and peaches, which bear upon new laterals, will bear 

 fruit even though heavily winter-cut, if these small laterals are retained 

 on the lower parts of the main branches. Some other trees, like the 

 prune, which bear on spurs, will delay the formation of spurs if heavily 

 winter-cut. These two facts suggest two diverse policies in pruning 

 bearing trees : A peach tree unpruned will reduce its crop for lack of 

 weakness of new laterals ; a prune tree too severely winter-pruned will 

 reduce its crop for lack of old spurs. Again, some fruits, or varieties 



First winter pruning. 



Second summer growth in orchard. 



of fruits, bear chiefly upon the tips, others chiefly upon the lateral 

 spurs ; shortening one reduces the crop largely ; shortening the other 

 may increase the marketable crop by decreasing the aggregate number 

 These and other similar facts suggest that pruning bearing trees, to be 

 intelligently pursued, must be accompanied with the fullest possible 

 knowledge of the bearing habit of the fruit or variety thereof. 



Cutting back or "shortening in" should be done in a way which will 

 reduce the burst of new shoots near the cut. This is measurably secured 

 by always cutting the branch at a strong lateral, because the sap flow 

 into this lateral prevents undue pressure and forcing of latent buds in 

 the vicinity of the cut. For this reason the cutting back of all branches 



