frame work branches, and their growth should be again 

 shortened very severely. The tendency as far as possible, 

 should be to prune to an outside bud for the first two winters' 

 pruning. With the head now practically formed, the orchard- 

 ist must shape the tree in accordance with its development, 

 leaving- and shortening in the inside laterals if they show 

 a tendency to spread out, or if the inclination is to assume 

 too upright a form, cause them to spread by leaving the out- 

 side laterals. The cutting back of the trees and judicious 

 thinning prevent the long bare branches so noticeable in 

 trees, which have not been systematically pruned every win- 

 ter. The effect of this method of pruning is to cause the struc- 

 tural branches to be larger in proportion to their length, 

 the load of fruit is carried closer to the trunk and even with 

 a very heavy crop of fruit the necessity of propping is eli- 

 minated very largely. Props are an expensive item and they 

 also interfere very materially with the harvesting of the 

 crop so that a method of pruning which will dispense with 

 them is worthy of very careful consideration. 



A Well -Balanced 

 Six- Year- Old 



Bartlett 

 Pear Tree. 



The object in 



mature trees 



should be to thin 



and to cut back 



the leaders and 



laterals to 



promote an 



abundance of 



short fruit spurs 



so typical of a 



well balanced 



pear tree. 



Storing Apples. Fall and winter apples for shipment or 

 storing should be picked just when the seeds commence to 

 darken and when the fruit yields to pressure. If allowed 

 to remain on the trees until fully matured, the fruit will not 

 keep. Apples can be kept, in the very best of condition 

 for months by storing them in a cool, dark place, where 

 the temperature is even and the air is not too dry. The fruit 

 can be piled three to four feet deep. When large quantities 

 are piled together in this way, the fruit will heat and sweat, 

 and air must be allowed to circulate through it for several 

 days until it dries, when both light and air should be excluded. 

 Never rub apples before storing and avoid packing them in 

 straw and hay as these only impart a bad flavor to the 

 fruit. In many localities in California, apples keep well 

 and sound until spring by simply piling under the trees 

 and covering them with leaves. 



THE PEAR 



The pear is a fruit cultviated throughout Cali- 

 fornia and the Pacific States generally, extending 

 into Mexico. It does well in all soils, but suc- 

 ceeds best on a heavy loam. Of the whole range 

 of commercial fruits it seems to thrive in alkali 

 soils and is being largely planted in vineyards 

 and orchards where the vines and trees have been 



