and distributed in such a manner on the body 

 of the tree so as to prevent crowding and the de- 

 velopment of forks. 



The aim of the pruner should be to open up 

 the tree and cut out any central leaders. The 

 second year a severe heading back again should 

 take place, and not leaving over one-fourth of 

 the new growth. Thin out the numerous small 

 laterals, allowing only a few to remain and remove any 

 which are close to the point where the framework branches 

 have been topped. If such laterals are allowed to remain, 

 the new growth in the spring will force its way through them 

 instead of forcing buds out where they belong, making an 

 ugly crook in the tree. The third season two shoots should 

 be allowed to start from the branches of the year before, 

 and they in turn should have their growth shortened in 

 two-thirds. The head of the tree will in the third season 



ATen-Year-Old 



Peach Tree 

 which has been 



developed by 



proper methods 



of pruning 



No fruit tree 

 responds more 



readily to 



intelligent 



pruning than 



the peach; want 



of I courage to 



cut back 

 sufficiently is 



one of the 

 besetting sins 

 of orchardists 

 with this tree. 



be fully formed and a medium crop of fruit may be expected. 

 The fourth year the multiplication of new branches should 

 be allowed to develop from those of the year before in about 

 the same ratio, at the same time following out the shortening 

 in method. Never neglect to follow up the pruning and 

 thinning of a peach tree every year no matter how old. 

 Topping without thinning in after years causes the develop- 

 ment of immense amounts of barren wood, which has a ten- 

 dency to smother the tree. Trees should never be set closer 

 than 24 feet apart, unless in extremely light soil where 20 

 feet is permissible. To obtain large firm fruit, thinning should 

 be resorted to if the trees are heavily laden. This should 

 be done when the fruit has set well and before the kernel 

 has hardened. 



Most growers become frightened when they find the ground 

 under a tree literally covered with fruit and get cold feet. 

 Forget your imaginary troubles and keep at it until your 

 peaches are not closer than four inches apart, and try to have 

 most of them six inches from each other, and then your 

 crop will be heavier no doubt than your tree will carry 

 without having a prop to support the over-burdened branches. 

 Less pits and more pounds of actual fine large luscious, per- 

 fect peachy peaches should be the desideratum for which 

 every grower should strive. 



THE NECTARINE 



The nectarine readily adapts itself to California conditions, 

 but reaches its greatest perfection in the interior valleys. 

 It is nothing more nor less than an accidental variety of 

 the peach with a smooth skin. Some varieties are even in- 

 clined to be slightly downy. Nectarines are of exceptionally 

 fine flavor and when dried their amber translucency renders 

 them very attractive, which added to their superior flavor 



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