10 HORTICULTURAL MANUAL. 



and very much retarded the opening of the flowers in 

 spring. 



189. Orchard Management. The stone fruits are 

 superior (33) and more liable to injury of blossoms by late 

 frosts than the apple or pear. Hence the most profitable 

 and regular bearing orchards of cherry, plum, prune, 

 apricot, and peach are found where proximity to water 

 lessens liability to damaging frosts in the blossoming 

 period, or on relatively high land with good air-drainage 

 (97). But it often happens that relatively low land has 

 still lower levels of large extent in the near vicinity and 

 may prove as free from frost as decided ridges. 



Budded trees on strong stocks usually are large enough 

 for orchard-planting when one year old. But crown- 

 grafted trees should remain in nursery until two years old. 

 The distance apart and plan of planting are discussed in 

 sections (115) and (117), and the alternating of varieties 

 in the row to secure proper pollination in section (122). 



Pruning (147 and 148) varies much in different climates 

 and with different varieties. The native plums usually 

 require but little pruning, and that in the way of shorten- 

 ing rampant-growing shoots prior to the trees coming into 

 bearing. When fruiting heavily the main essential in 

 pruning is the cutting out of dead wood in the interior as 

 it appears. The select native varieties are rapidly taking 

 a place in the leading markets, but their habit of overbear- 

 ing requires thinning if the best prices are to be realized. 

 In California, and on rich soils in the South and East, the 

 domestica varieties make too rapid growth when young. 

 To secure the needed thickness of top to prevent the sun- 

 burning of the wood and fruit they are headed back (148), 

 causing a subdivision of the growing wood. As the trees 

 get older less pruning is done, confining it mainly to the 

 removal of dead wood and shortening the young shoots 



