FRUIT GROWING 11 



has assumed an autumn aspect and lost its summer exuberance. If 

 this comes too early because of drying out of the soil, sunburn must 

 be guarded against by spraying with whitewash. But trees to be 

 thrifty and to bear well should be prevented, by irrigation, from 

 yellowing their leaves too soon. No pruning can compensate for such 

 a loss as that, though by reducing evaporating surface it may keep the 

 tree alive until the rains come. 



Skipping a Year's Pruning. 



Would harm result from not pruning my orchard for one season? 

 They are mixed trees, most of which are three years old, and which have 

 been regularly pruned each season. There are some one year in orchard, 

 which were cut back closely after planting. 



You can skip a year with the older trees which have been stiffened 

 by thrice cutting back. Next year you can cut into the older wood as 

 seems desirable. A good many growers play the game that way. The 

 trees only a year in the orchard should be pruned before second year's 

 growth starts. 



Pruning Almonds. 



My almonds will be three years old next February. I have never 

 pruned them. When is the proper time to prune, and would you advise 

 me to prune? I believe they are too bushy. 



They probably are too thick and have a lot of branches crossing 

 each other or lying upon each other, and thus interfering with good 

 foliage action. Your work would be chiefly thinning out surplus 

 branching and cutting back to upright Laterals branches which are 

 drooping too much. You can begin this as soon as the foliage yellows 

 and keep ait it for the next two months or more. (See also Part I, 

 Vol. I.) 



Pruning Prunes. 



How would you prune a French prune tree after second summer 

 in orchard? Would you advise topping or cutting back main branches, 

 and how many laterals would you allow to grow on main branches, 

 and should the laterals be pruned? 



Although there is some difference of opinion as to how a prune 

 tree should be pruned after the third summer growth there is little 

 difference among those who prune at all, as to the desirability of 

 rather short cutting for the third summer's growth. Prune back to 

 a length of one to two feet from the starting point of the second 

 summer's growth, according to strength, situation and direction of 

 the branch. There can be no rule of inches. It is a matter of judg- 

 ment. As to number of laterals, two cut-back shoots of last summer's 

 growth from each branch of the first summer's growth would be 

 usually enough to fill the tree sufficiently by the end of next summer's 

 growth. 



