82 HOME FRUIT GROWER 



per cent, late the following Winter. When two-year trees are bought 

 the selection of leaders is the same as just indicated. 



The uppermost bud will grow more vigorously than any of the 

 others and if erect more in continuation of the original direction 

 of growth. Side shoots will develop from both last season's and 

 this year's growth. These must be pinched as indicated on page 79. 

 When too few branches are formed on the two-year tree all those 

 that have formed including the main trunk may be cut back to the 

 lowest bud or two so as to force the development of a new set and 

 larger number of branches. Leaders of strong growing varieties 

 will need to be pinched. What ones can easily be determined by 

 their making growth out of proportion to the others. One must use 

 his own judgment as to the amount to pinch. Every season the 

 dormant pruning and the Summer pinching must be done a few 

 minutes only are needed each time if the work is done regularly. 



THE PYRAMIDAL FORM, used mainly for the Pear, is developed 

 as follows: The one- year whip is cut back before the buds start in 

 Spring to leave about twelve inches if the whip is sturdy, ten, eight or 

 even six if weak. The uppermost bud will develop the leader which 

 must not be Summer pinched unless it is robbing the others of food, 

 that is, growing too sturdily. The other shoots must have their tips 

 pinched. When the uppermost side shoot (leader), grows much 

 stronger than the lower ones, as is usually the case, it must be pinched 

 back early in the season, perhaps in late May. The one next to it 

 may be pinched a couple of weeks later and so on down till the lowest 

 one is pinched latest in the season, perhaps not till mid- July or early 

 August. This method tends to balance the strength of the branches. 



During the Summer, as undesired twigs appear below the lowest 

 desired branch, rub them off with the hand while still very small. 

 Leaves on the trunk should remain. Any side shoots that may develop 

 on the leaders must be pinched back as already indicated. Should 

 they be growing slowly their ends must be pinched during late June, 

 regardless of their length. 



Dormant pruning before the buds start during the second Spring 

 is practically a repetition of the first year's dormant work. The 

 young growth of the main leader is cut back 50 to 75 per cent., the 

 cut being made where it will favor upward growth of the erect stem 

 from the uppermost bud. Lower buds on the leader will develop 

 side shoots which must be treated as those of the previous year were 

 handled. The idea is to have the lowest leaders longest, the upper- 

 most ones the shortest as the tree grows older. Side shoots on all 

 leaders are pinched back as the previous year. 



Each year the dormant pruning is repeated as just outlined,^ 



