Fig. 11. Jerseymac on MM 106 after one growing season. 

 Tine tree developed wide-angled lateral branches. 

 It is necessary to select one of the 3 upright branch- 

 es as the central leader and head the central leader. 

 Fig. 12 shows the same tree after pruning. 



previous growing season.) 



5. A few trees will have lateral branches on the previous 

 summer's extension growth of the central leader. On 

 these trees, it will be possible to select laterals for the 

 second layer of branches. Select 3 or 4 lateral branches 

 for this second layer allowing several inches vertical 

 spacing between branches. Remove excess branches. 



6. Continue the selection of the first level of scaffold 

 branches at the base of the leader. Three to five 

 branches are needed. These should be well-spaced 

 vertically around the trunk and the lowest limb 18 

 to 20 inches from the ground. 



7. Position the branches at the first level to an angle of 

 45° with wire or wood spreaders described elsewhere 

 in this publication. Those that developed the previous 



Fig. 12. The same tree as in Fig. 1 1 after pruning. 



growing season could have been positioned at that 

 time with spring-type clothespins. 



8. Remove upright shoots (watersprouts) that may have 

 developed on the branches at the first level, branches 

 growing towards the center of the tree, downward, or 

 competing with the selected, permanent scaffold 

 branches. 



9. Heading of branches may be required on some cultivars 

 to stiffen them and on spur-types to force lateral 

 branching. 



Third dormant season 



1 . A well-grown tree now has 2 distinct layers of branches 

 (the first at the base of the central leader and the sec- 

 ond 20 to 24 inches above the first layer) and possibly 

 the beginning of a third layer on the previous season's 

 extension growth of the central leader. 



2. The previous summer's extension growth of the central 

 leader is pruned and competing shoots removed as de- 



21 



