a more horizontally growing branch near the trunk. 

 Branches of Cortland tend to droop and this cultivar 

 has a tendency to lose its dominant central leader. 

 Thus, particular attention must be given to keeping 

 the leader dominant. Mcintosh and Jerseymac should 

 present no serious problem if well trained during the 

 first 4 years. Cultivars, like Delicious, Early Mcintosh, 

 and Macoun, need limb positioning because they are 

 inclined to develop strong upright limbs. 



Pruning high density orchards with trees stai<ed. Trees on 

 M.9 are frequently trained as slender spindles in Europe and 

 in western New York State. Tree shape is conical having a 

 permanent frame of branches at the base of the leader, and, 

 above this frame, short fruiting branches arranged around a 

 vertical leader which is supported by a post. The size of the 

 permanent frame of branches depends on the planting dis- 

 tance, being larger the greater the planting distance. 



High tree numbers per acre using M.9 as the rootstock is 

 only possible with weak (small) frames. Therefore, pruning 

 is minimized in the early life of the tree to encourage early 

 cropping. On bearing trees, vigorous branches are completely 

 removed to maintain low vigor on the trees. Thus, the com- 

 bination of M.9 rootstock, minimum pruning, early bearmg, 

 and the removal of vigorous branches all contribute to weak 

 growth and permits close tree spacings. 



The following procedures are suggested for training trees 

 as slender-spindles and are for trial only. Undoubtedly, 

 experience will prove us wrong on some procedures. 



Planting time. 



Head Mcintosh trees and other vigorous varieties at 36 inch- 

 es—a weak growing variety should be headed at 30-32 inches. 

 Remove all branches lower than 16 inches from the ground. 

 Other branches are best left unpruned except if they are 

 badly placed, for instance all are on one side of the stem or 

 where there is only a single vigorous branch. When all the 

 branches are on one side of the stem they should be thinned 

 out. If there is only a single, vigorous branch, it should be 

 removed to avoid lopsided development of the tree. 



First growing season. 



When the extension shoots at the top of the tree are 6 to 8 

 inches long, remove the upper-most extension shoots (gen- 

 erally 2) and leave a weak upright growing lateral for the 

 leader. Spread branches with spring-type clothespins. 



First dormant season. 



1. In developing the slender-spindle, the goal should 

 always be to weaken the growth in the top of the tree 

 and encourage the production of fruiting branches. 

 Thus, remove the strong vertical leader and use a weak- 

 er competitor lateral as the new leader if not done the 

 first summer. The branch selected is not necessarily 

 the first one below the leader, especially if the first 

 lateral branch is growing very strongly. Similarly, if 

 vigor in the lower part of the tree is weak, it is best 



to cut back to a lower upright-growing lateral to stimu- 

 late growth of the laterals for the lower frame. When 

 there is no suitable lateral to serve as a replacement 

 leader, it will be necessary to retain the central leader. 

 It should be pruned back only if the overall tree is 

 weak. Any competing lateral immediately beneath 

 the central leader should be spread or removed. 



2. If desirable branches fail to develop 24 to 36 inches 

 above the ground, reduce the height of the leader by 

 1 to 1 2 inches. Cut at a vertical 1 -year-old shoot suit- 

 able as a new leader. This is necessary to encourage 

 formation of strong lower branches. 



3. Four or five strong wide-angled branches are needed 

 in the lower 1/3 to 1/2 of the tree. However, it is 

 better to have too many than too few. The extra ones 

 can be removed later. 



4. Branches lower than 24 inches should be removed. 

 Second dormant season. 



1. Again remove the strong vertical leader and use a 

 weaker competitor as the new leader. If the leader is 

 too vigorous, cut back to a vertical 2-year-old branch 

 (Figs. 19 and 20). The procedures of removing the 

 strong leader will give a zig-zag growth pattern to the 

 central leader and reduce its vigor 



2. When limb positioning is necessary, perform this pro- 

 cedure at this time. 



Third dormant season. 



1. Repeat the procedure followed the second dormant 

 season. 



2. Remove, don't head back, vigorous branches in the 

 upper part of the tree. This is necessary for the main- 

 tenance of a conical-shaped tree. Therefore, the bran- 

 ches in the upper 1/2 of the tree must be shorter and 

 weaker than the permanent branches at the base of 

 the leader. Secondly, heading-back scaffold branches, 

 rather than their complete removal, will stimulate 

 undesirable lateral and vertical growth. 



3. Limb positioning is best avoided by retaining only the 

 weakest shoots toward the top of the tree. All pruning 

 should be directed toward reducing the vigor in the 

 upper part of the tree and avoiding heavy growth.^ ' 



Fourth dormant season. 



1 . The top of the tree should be cut back to a 2 or more 

 year old side branch and not, as in previous years, to 



ll Summer pruning (aftergrowth stops) is the preferred time 

 to make thinning cuts because less stimulation of growth 

 follows pruning at this time. However, avoid all unneces- 

 sary pruning until the tree is in heavy production. 



26 



