86 DWARF FRUIT TREES 



best fruit buds are formed on the strong clean shoots 

 of the current season's growth. These must be allowed 

 to grow far enough and vigorously enough to ripen 

 good fruit buds. If they make too much growth, 

 however, the side buds start secondary branches and 

 the fruiting prospects are reduced. The management 

 of the tree must be such as to keep this growth of 

 new wood in just the proper balance. 



In order to carry out the idea thus outlined, an 

 early spring pruning is given while the trees are 

 dormant, and several successive primings are ad- 

 ministered during the growing season. At the spring 

 pruning a considerable amount of wood is cut out 

 from all portions of the tree, the amount thus removed 

 being much greater than that from the pear or apple 

 trees at the same season. The old decrepit and 

 diseased branches are taken first for removal, and then 

 one year old wood is cut back where necessary, so 

 as to leave two or three buds at the base of each 

 branch. 



The first summer pruning is given about May I5th 

 to 2Oth, after the growth has well begun. A vigorous 

 tree will start more shoots than there is room for, 

 and these are thinned out until all have sufficient 

 space. A few of the most vigorous ones are pinched 

 back at this time. One week to ten days later the 

 trees are gone over again, at which time the principal 

 pinching back is done. The shoots which are making 

 too much growth, especially on the interior of the tree 

 or on the main arms, are stopped. A third pruning 

 is given about June first, and consists chiefly in re- 

 moving weak shoots or those which are crowding one 



