PRUNING DWARF FRUIT TREES 35 



more to repress the growth of a tree than winter 

 pruning does. In fact, heavy winter pruning leads 

 rather to increased vegetative vigor. Aside from any 

 special system of pruning, therefore, this rule is to 

 be remembered, that summer pruning is desirable, on 

 general principles, for dwarf fruit trees. 



3. Side shoots usually need pinching during the 

 growing season. Leaders are more frequently allowed 

 to grow unchecked throughout the season, or are 

 stopped only late in their period of development. In 

 the pomaceous fruits, which form distinct fruit spurs, 

 the checking of these side shoots helps toward the 

 production of fruit buds. As long as every bud is 

 allowed to push out into a strong shoot no fruit spurs 

 can become established. Thus the summer pinching 

 of the side shoots on apples and pears has the pur- 

 pose of encouraging the formation of fruit spurs. On 

 peach and plum trees equally distinct fruit spurs do 

 not form; but if the side shoots are allowed to push 

 forth unrestricted they are apt to choke one another. 

 There will be too many of them, they will not get light 

 enough, their growth will be weak and sappy, and they 

 will not form fruit buds. Good fruit buds on a peach 

 tree, for example, form on strong, clean, healthy shoots 

 of this year's growth for next year's crop of fruit. It 

 is seen, therefore, that in nearly all sorts of dwarf fruit 

 trees the summer pruning is especially directed to the 

 suppression or regulation of the growth of side shoots. 



This part of the treatment becomes of prime im- 

 portance in dealing with cordons and espaliers. 



4. The control of the fruit spurs or of the side 

 shoots here contemplated requires that the trees be 



