314 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



There are so many cases of blossom infection and the killing of fruiting 

 twigs that it is argued that the fruit should be allowed to grow on the 

 smaller branches, remote from the trunk and larger limbs, in order that 

 the chances of blight getting into the big wood may be reduced to a 

 minimum. In other words the trees are stripped clean from the ground 

 to some distance above the crotches and no spurs are allowed to grow 

 except on the smaller branches. While this reasoning is sound, a few 

 of the better pear growers are allowing new wood to develop from 

 trunks and larger branches which at one time were stripped, with the 

 idea of increasing the production of the trees. Fig. 121 illustrates this 

 point. It is very doubtful if this method is safe enough to be recom- 

 mended generally and while there is no question about the increased 

 productivity of the trees which are allowed to develop these lower 

 branches, it is doubtful if the increase in pears will be sufficient to pay 

 for the extra work necessary in cutting out blight, for it is sure to get 

 into the trunks when it would not get started were it not for smaller 

 infected branches developing the disease and leading it in. However, 

 the danger is minimized in orchards where a continual, systematic and 

 intelligent fight is being made against this disease, and it is probable 

 that there are growers who can make their trees pay more by the method 

 outlined. In the case of the inexperienced grower or the grower who 

 fights blight occasionally or when he is forced to do so, no chances of this 

 kind should be taken. Generally speaking any growth from below the 

 crotches should be removed in pruning, including the water sprouts or 

 suckers that come from the seedling root below the crown. Also any 

 succulent growth emanating from the larger limbs for some distance 

 above the crotches should be removed unless such growth may be made 

 to serve a useful purpose. 



The practice of cutting out water sprouts each season, regardless 01 

 whether or not anything else in the way of pruning is attempted can 

 not always be recommended. Water sprouts are only branches that have 

 made a very rapid growth without the development of laterals or even 

 thrifty buds. If left in the tree the second season 's growth may be very 

 slight and they will develop into branches having the same fruit-bearing 

 possibilities as any other branches of the tree. Cutting them back to 

 lengths of a foot or less has a tendency to cause the development of fruit 

 spurs close in to the trunk. If this cutting back is done during the 

 summer season the tendency is increased, and in some orchards such 

 pruning is desirable. 



Heading back small branches from the ends to prevent too long a 

 growth should be practiced. Propping becomes necessary when this 

 important part of the pruning operation is neglected. Short, stocky 

 branches, well supplied with fruit spurs are the most desirable. A 

 knowledge of the fruit-bearing habits of a tree is necessary to intelligent 

 and most successful pruning. The pear bears most of its fruit on short 

 spurs (see Fig. 122), which live year after year, producing each season 

 with little growth, but always forming new buds for another crop. The 

 pruning away of spurs may be practiced for the purpose of thinning a 

 crop, but oftener it is necessary to encourage their development. The 

 fruit buds of such spurs may be distinguished from the leaf buds because 



