Fruit Growing 19 



ing out of other roots. Where there is only a bruise on one side, 



all the frayed edges of the wound should be cleanly cut back to 



sound bark, which will have a tendency to promote healing and 

 prevent decay. 



Pruning in Frosty Places. 



This appears to be a frosty section. Pruners are at ivork continuously 

 from the time the apricots are harvested until spring arrives. From zvhat 

 is said in "California Fruits" I judge late zvintcr pruning zvould be best for 

 apricots and peaches. Am I correct? 



In frosty places it is often desirable to prune rather late, be- 

 cause the late-pruned tree usually starts later than the early pruned, 

 and thus may not bloom until after frost is over. 



Low Growth on Fruit Trees. 



Should the little tzvigs on the lozvcr parts of young fruit trees be 

 removed or shortened? 



An important function which these small shoots and the foliage 

 which they will carry perform is in the thickening of the larger 

 branches to which they are attached and overcoming the tendency 

 of the tree to become too tall and spindling. This can be done at 

 any time, even to the pinching of young, soft shoots as they appear. 

 It must be said, however, that in ordinary commercial fruit growing 

 little attention is paid to these fine points, which are the great 

 enjoyment of the European fruit-gardeners and are of questionable 

 value in our standard orcharding. It is, however, a great mistake 

 to clear away all low twigs, for such twigs bring the first fruit on 

 young trees. 



Are Tap-Roots Essential? 



Is it better to plant a nut or seed or to plant a grafted root; also is 

 it better to allozv the tap-root to remain or not in event of planting a 

 grafted root? 



It does not matter at all whether the tree has its original tap- 

 root or not. All tap-roots are more or less destroyed in trans- 

 planting and the fact that not one per cent of the walnut trees now 

 bearing crops in California consist of trees grown from the nut 

 itself planted in place, is sufficient demonstration to us that it is 

 perfectly practicable to proceed with transplanting the trees. It is 

 more important that the tree should have the right sort of soil and 

 the right degree of moisture to grow in than that it should retain 

 the root from which the seedling started. The removal of the tap- 

 root does not prevent the tree from sending out one or several 

 deep running roots which will penetrate as deeply as the soil and 

 moisture conditions favor. This is true not only of the walnut but 

 of other fruit trees. 



