218 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



fruit production is a direct demand upon the vigor and life of the 

 tree. Pruning during the dormant season encourages vegetative 

 growth. Weak trees may be invigorated by proper pruning when 

 dormant. An excessive wood growth may be induced upon vigorous 

 trees by a too severe pruning during the dormant season. 



Lack of pruning is frequently responsible for fruit of small 

 size and indifferent quality ; for an expensive type of tree for spray- 

 ing and harvesting of fruit; for a lack of economy of the vigor and 

 resources of the tree which can be directed toward fruit production ; 

 and for premature old age and final destruction of the tree. Proper 

 pruning tends to conserve and promote the vigor of fruit trees. A 

 certain amount of light is essential to the production of fine fruit. 

 To secure a maximum crop of fine fruit it is necessary that each 

 tree should have a maximum amount of vigorous fruit bearing sur- 

 face. To secure a uniform orchard of trees of good form it is neces- 

 sary to practise a certain amount of pruning and training from the 

 beginning. To prune a one-year-old peach tree, first select the best 

 two, three or four main branches that tend to form the strongest, the 

 most symmetrical and best balanced tree. Cut off all other main 

 branches close to the trunk. Retain those particular secondary or 

 side branches which, by their position and vigor, tend to form an 

 ideal framework for the support of the fruit bearing surface of the 

 tree. Where two branches occupy much the same space one should 

 be removed. All branches which cross and encroach upon the space 

 due to others should be pruned out. The principal objects in cutting 

 back the branches of one-year-old peach trees may be briefly ex- 

 pressed as follows: (1) To correct an irregular form and habit of 

 growth and thus secure a better balanced tree. (2) To secure a more 

 spreading type of tree by a proper checking of the upright tendency 

 of growth of the central leading branches (especially of upright 

 growing varieties). (3) To develop a stronger and more compact 

 tree. (4) To promote a more vigorous growth where there is a lack 

 of vigor or winter injury to the twigs. A slight cutting back of the 

 twigs is beneficial to one-year-old peach trees. Severe cutting back 

 is only proper when the trees are weak, irregular or of an undesirable 

 form. 



One who really understands pruning should be able to prune 

 from seventy to eighty average one-year-old trees per hour without 

 difficulty. A man of ordinary pruning ability should be able to 

 prune from fifty to sixty trees per hour unless they are unusually 

 large. 



For average good soils it is recommended that the following 

 kinds and amounts of fertilizers per acre be applied early the second 

 season and plowed under: 



Sulfate or Muriate of Potash 150 Ibs. 



Ground Bone 100 " 



Acid Phosphate 200 " 



Where the soil appears to be deficient in nitrogen, and especially 

 if the trees fail to make a satisfactory growth the first season, it is 

 recommended that 150 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre be added 



