Fig. 16. Mac Spur on IV1.26 after 1 growing season. Since 

 only one branch developed at a low level (less than 

 18 inches from ground), it should be removed and 

 the tree headed again at 30 inches. 



First growing season. 



1 . When shoots average 3 to 6 inches in length: 



a. Select central leader plus 3 to 5 potential branches 

 and remove all other shoots. 



b. Remove shoot growth lower than 18 inches from 

 ground. 



First dormant season. 



1. Tree is now composed of new terminal shoot growth 

 (one-year-old section of tree) and the original whip 

 with lateral shoots (two-year-old section of tree). 



2. Select the central leader and remove all competing 

 shoots. 



3. Head the central leader by removing !4 to Vs of its 

 past season's growth. Head it to induce branching 

 that will be 18 to 24 inches above the branches at the 

 base of the leader. 



Fig. 17. Same tree as in Fig. 16 after pruning. For those 

 with "courage" trunk renewal is a method of get- 

 ting weak trees to grow properly. This involves 

 cutting back the tree to a few buds to develop a 

 new trunk. 



a. If leader development is poor, head it regardless 

 so that a strong leader will develop which can be 

 headed at an adequate height the following year. 



4. Select 3 to 5 lateral branches, well-spaced vertically 

 around the trunk for the first level of permanent 

 branches at the base of the leader on the two-year-old 

 section of the tree. 



a. If only one branch has developed or the branches 

 are too high or low, remove them and start over 

 (Figs. 16 and 17). 



b. If branches have developed on only one side of 

 the tree, do the same. 



5. Head each branch by removing % of the past season's 

 growth. This will keep the branches vegetative, stiff- 

 ened and encourage development of lateral side shoots 

 (Fig. 18). 



Fig. 18. Heading cuts as advocated by the USDA induces lateral branching as illustrated in (A). Branches of this type have 

 greater fruiting potential than the unheaded branch shown in (B). Heading cuts to induce lateral branching may not 

 be essential on non-spur type trees. (Redrawn with the permission of Don R. Heinicke.) 



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