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HOME FRUIT GROWER 



leaders during Summer is 

 to induce the formation 

 of buds that will blossom 

 the following Spring. Not 

 only will these blossom 

 buds form as they normal- 

 ly do on short lateral fruit 

 spurs one year old or older 

 but also on wood of the 

 current season's growth; 

 that is, a year earlier than 

 normally would be the 

 case. Since fruit spurs are 

 prone to bear only every 

 other year, this develop- 

 ment of blossom buds on 

 growing wood is just so 

 much gain towards regular 

 annual bearing. 



While Peaches and 

 Nectarines often develop 

 fruit on twigs two or three 

 years old, these twigs are 

 not like the spurs of the 

 fruit trees just discussed, 

 because they generally 

 bear only once, then die. 



This method of bearing is not the principal one for the Peach. The 

 great majority of the Peach fruit buds are developed on one year's 

 leaders and side branches and expanded the following Spring. Japanese 

 Plums and Apricots are betwixt and between the European Plums 

 and the Peaches in production of fruit buds, some being upon spurs, 

 some on the leaders and side branches of this year's development. 



To limit the spread and the height of top the leaders are severely 

 headed back during the dormant season, preferably toward the opening 

 of Spring. This results in the development of many shoots which, 

 during the growing season, must be either removed entirely or be 

 pinched back to induce the formation of blossom buds. Both Winter 

 pruning and Summer pinching are essential to best success with dwarf 

 fruits. Root pruning is rarely practised except to check the growth 

 of the most vigorous varieties. 



"Leaders" are main branches that originate from the main 

 trunk and terminate during the growing season in a twig of young^ 



Fig. 61. The dwarf Pear is easily trained to sup- 

 ports where space must be conserved 



