PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



309 



offers the best opportunity for developing a favorable type of head, and 

 the opinion is expressed that we have only begun to know the value of 

 summer pruning, and as time goes on more and more of it will be done. 

 There are two main advantages to be gained by summer cutting of the 

 tree the first season. In the first place the upright growing tendency 

 can be very largely overcome and a system of laterals developed which 

 will give the tree a good spread. Secondly all surplus branches can be 

 removed and the growth of the most desirable branches for the frame- 

 work can be encouraged. Fig. 114 shows a summer-pruned tree in the 

 Rio Linda section of Sacramento County. Note the wonderful spread 

 of branches, the uniform size and the proper spacing along the trunk. 

 These trees were pruned under the direction of Mr. Fred C. Brosius 

 County Horticultural Commissioner, Sacramento. The work was' done 



FIG. 116. Correct number of branches to form the framework but poorly 

 placed, making bad crotches. 



during the month of July after the growth had attained consider- 

 able length. A foot or more was frequently removed, and from 

 6 to 12 inches left. Care was taken to cut just above an outside bud in 

 every case where it was desired to increase the spread of the branches. 

 Careful attention to this little detail will mean much toward securing 

 the best type of head for the Bartlett variety, in fact all varieties except 

 a few that are exceptional in that they have a natural tendency to 

 spread. In Fig. 115 the extreme type of upright tree is shown. Sum- 

 mer pruning will correct this fault better than dormant pruning. 



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