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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



renders it more liable to sunburn, to bark-binding and to unthrift by 

 forcing the sap to flow an unnecessary distance and through wood 

 and bark which impede its movement. Besides a low tree escapes 

 stress by strong winds which a high tree invites and at the same time 

 is less able to withstand. Pruning for health and strength of tree 

 also includes the removal of unthrifty or diseased parts, which are 

 not only an incumbrance to the tree, but may communicate to other 

 parts the causes of their ill condition. 



Heat and Light. The maintenance of strong bearing wood in the 

 lower part of the tree is conditioned upon the proper pruning of the 

 top of the tree. How far the upper levels or the shade-layer of the 

 tree can be safely opened, depends upon the local climate in each 

 fruit region. The rule must be the higher the summer heat the 

 denser the tree ; the lower the heat the thinner the tree ; but every- 

 where the proper condition of openness must be constantly in view 

 in pruning. Not alone must this be done to maintain thrifty growth 

 below, but it is also essential to the best growth and ripening of the 

 fruit in the lower and interior parts of the tree. Fruit inferior in 

 size, color and quality results, in part, from lack of pruning to regu- 

 late the admission of light and heat, sometimes one, sometimes both, 

 to the shaded portion of the tree. 



Bearing Wood. Good fruit develops on good bearing wood and 

 good bearing wood is the product of proper degrees of light and 

 heat, as has just been urged. But bearing wood in the case of some 

 fruits is new wood, and reduction of old wood for the purpose of 

 forcing the growth of new wood must be constantly in mind. Re- 

 newal is more or less a consideration with all trees, and especially the 

 securing of strong new wood. This is a point upon which close 

 study of the bearing tree will yield most satisfactory suggestions. 



Size of Fruit. The size of fruit, providing the tree is healthy 

 and vigorous, depends upon the character and amount of bearing 

 wood which the tree is allowed to carry. Removal of part of the 

 fruit burden is done by thinning after it is well set, but this labor 

 should always be minimized by antecedent pruning, which aims to 

 retain more or less bearing wood according to the vigor, size and 

 bearing habit of the tree. Thinning out of bearing shoots and spurs, 

 when either are clearly seen to be in excess, should be the constant 

 study of the pruner. 



Regular Bearing. This point is largely involved in the preceding 

 and affords an additional incentive. Regulating the amount of fruit 

 borne in one year may involve the profit of two years, because a tree 

 may not be able to produce an excessive amount of fruit and perfect 

 good fruit buds for the following year. It may generally make buds 

 which will bloom, but not always that. If it does make the bloom, 

 it is no guaranty that the bloom will be strong and effective for 

 bearing. Consequently, pruning for reasonable amount of bearing 

 should always be borne in view and should be practised at the close 

 of the year of non-bearing with particular diligence, if the alternate 

 year bearing- habit is to be broken up. 



