PRUNING THE PLUM 



275 



special point like that claimed by Mr. Gillet can be attained by 

 them. 



PLANTING AND PRUNING 



As with other trees, there is a difference of opinion as to the best 

 distance apart for plum trees. The present tendency is toward 

 wider planting ; not nearer than twenty feet is the usual advice, and 

 on rich land, twenty-two, twenty-four or twenty-six feet is better. 



The plum, in California, is a most rapid grower; six to ten feet 

 from the bud or graft in a season, and about as much after the first 

 winter's cutting back, is not at all unusual. At this rate of progress 



Pruning after first summer's 

 growth in orchard 



Growth during second summer 

 in orchard 



then, the tree soon runs up and away, in a spindling, sprawling 

 fashion, unless severely cut back for the first few years. Neglected 

 trees of some varieties show long, streaming branches, arching out- 

 ward, and exposing the bark to sunburn (to which it is very sensi- 

 tive), breaking the tree to pieces as the fruit gets weight, and, even 

 if supported by props, breaking off at the bearing of the prop. This 

 condition of the tree can only be obviated by low heading and 

 moderate cutting back each year, with due regard to limiting the 

 amount of bearing wood to get large fruit. For such plum varieties 

 the suggestions on forming the tree and subsequent treatment in 

 Chapter XII will be found helpful. 



