a trellis of 4 wires in the section on "supporting trees." 

 A trellis may be constructed to acconnmodate 3 to 6 wires 

 and the top wire may be e'A to 10 feet above the ground. 

 The height of the top wire is determined by the harvesting 

 method. In Massachusetts all picking from trellised-trees is 

 done from the ground, thus the top wire is 6 to 7 feet from 

 the ground. In other areas, the height of the tree wall on 

 trellis may be 12 feet and the fruit are picked from platforms 

 or short ladders. 



Erection of the trellis is expensive. Your County Exten- 

 sion Service can supply you with names of local growers 

 who have trellises. You should visit these growers to obtain 

 ideas on construction and training of trees on trellises. Also, 

 your County Extension Service can supply you with names 

 and addresses of individuals to write in other areas to obtain 

 information on trellising. Perhaps the most costly error in 

 trellising is insufficient spacing between rows because of the 

 permanency of the trellis. 



The trellis can be constructed in stages over the first 3 

 years after establishment of the trees or totally at a conve- 

 nient time. However, the posts and the bottom wire should 

 be in place soon after planting to support the developing 

 lateral branches and the central leader. A variety of systems 

 can be used to train trees to a trellis (Fig. 21). Our experience 

 is too limited to judge which system or systems are best. 

 However, a simple system for a 4-wire trellis involves training 

 8 limbs per tree to the trellis— 4 on each side of the main 



leader— by twisting the limbs around the wire 1 or 2 turns. 

 Spring-type clothespins, plastic ties, nylon ties, or baling 

 twine can be used to hold the branches In place. 



At planting, head the trees 17 to 18 inches above the 

 ground to induce branching below the first wire. Two bran- 

 ches are selected during the growing season and these plus 

 the extension growth of the central leader are tied to the 

 bottom wire. To prevent restriction of growth, do not bend 

 the branch downward to a level that is lower than its point 

 of attachment to the trunk. The branch is in the best position 

 when it originates several inches below the wire to which it 

 will be tied. All but the 2 selected branches are removed 

 in order to maintain a dominant central leader. 



Pruning in the succeeding years of training will be similar 

 until the tree has 8 limbs trained to the trellis— 4 on each 

 side of the main leader. When the central leader extends 

 higher than the top wire, it can be bent in one direction and 

 tied to the top wire or be removed just below the top wire. 



Each year, shoots will arise from the tied branches; some 

 should be (a) removed to allow better light penetration into 

 the tree; (b) others should be bent and tied to the wires; 

 (c) others should be headed back to maintain tree width in 

 the row to 3-4 feet; and (d) others should be used as replace- 

 ments for older branches that have become low in vigor. 



Snow and ice may cause limb breakage on trellised trees 

 some winters. 



Fig. 21. Apple trees can be trained as palmettes with horizontal branches (A) or palmettes with oblique branches (B) and by 

 other systems. 



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