110 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



Variations of the Vase Form. There are several variations of 

 the vase form to be found in California orchards. The prevalent is a 

 vase form with short-jointed leaders (secured by systematic cutting- 

 back) which will be described in detail as the "common vase form." 

 Another, which is gaining in popularity, aims to grow leaders 

 trained along in directions first chosen for them (without cutting 

 back after the low head has been secured), and this may be described 

 as the "vase form with continuous leaders." The latter method 

 aims to secure more open centers and to produce fruit nearer to the 

 leaders, or, as one may call them, the ribs of the tree the figure 

 having a rough resemblance to the ribs of an inverted umbrella. 

 These open-center vase forms will be described in the chapters on 

 the apricot and peach, to which fruits they have been chiefly applied. 



Vase-Form Without Cutting Back. An interesting experiment 

 in the development and retention of the vase-form without cutting 

 back the main branches after the first year in the orchard has been 

 undertaken on the University Farm at Davis under the direction of 

 Dr. J. C. Whitten, head of the Division of Pomology of the Univer- 

 sity of California. The shaping of the tree begins by cutting back 

 at planting to get a low head, the framework of the tree being 

 secured by selection of three main branches properly placed on the 

 short stem. These branches are cut back during the first winter to 

 16 to 24 inches in length and are not cut back afterwards except 

 in the case of excessive extension, when they may be shortened, if 

 necessary, to a lateral which is to continue, as nearly as may be, 

 growth in the same direction. Growth on these continuous leaders 



Forms of head resulting from cutting back 



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of head 



