'■■ s 



Fig. 13. A hormone is synthesized in the growing points of 

 the branches in the upper parts of the tree and 

 translocated downward. (The greater the amount 

 of hormone, the wider the branch angles.) There- 

 fore, crotch angles are relatively narrow in the 

 branches highest on the trunk where little or no 

 hormone reaches them from growing point above, 

 and they are progressively wider toward the base 

 of the tree as shown in this figure. Furthermore, 

 the smaller the supply of hormone, the greater the 

 growth. This is why the greatest growth was made 

 by the uppermost branches of the tree shown In 

 this figure. 



scribed for the second dormant season. 



3. Select 3 or 4 lateral branches, if they are present, on 

 the previous season's extension growth of the central 

 leader for the third level of branches. These should be 

 18 to 20 inches above the second level of branches. 



4. Continue the selection of the second level of scaffold 

 branches (20 to 24 inches above the first level). Three 

 or four are needed and should be well-spaced vertically 

 (3 to 4 inch spacing) and the branches not directly 



Fig. 14. Spring-type clothespins used on lateral shoots the 

 first growing season to position branches. The 

 clothespins could have been removed after 2 or 3 

 weeks. Note the plastic-lined mouse guard. The 

 gap at the bottom of the guard makes it ineffective 

 for mouse protection. 



above one another. 



5. Position the branches at the second level to an angle 

 of 45°. 



6. Prune the scaffold branches in the first layer at the 

 base of the leader as described for the second dormant 

 season. 



Fourth dormant season. 



1 . At this time, scaffold branches should be well distrib- 

 uted along the central leader in layers. There should 

 be 3 distinct layers on well-grown trees and the start 

 of a fourth layer, depending on how well the tree has 

 grown. 



2. The one-year-old and two-year-old sections of the 



22 



