Trimming the Young Plant. 249 



There are two general methods of trimming the 

 tops of young trees at planting time. One method 

 cuts back all the branches to spurs of from one to 

 three buds ; or sometimes, particularly with dwarf 

 pears set when two years old, the side branches may 

 be cut entirely away, leaving only the buds on the 

 main stem or trunk. The tree, therefore, " feathers 

 out" the first season; that is, it makes many small 

 shoots along the main trunk. The following fall or 

 spring, the top is started at the desired height. 

 Fig. 23 shows a peach tree as received from the 

 nursery, and Fig. 24 the same tree, trimmed in this 

 manner, ready for planting. This method is the one 

 generally best adapted to the peach, which is always 

 set when a year old ; but for other fruits, unless 

 the trees are slender and without good, branchy tops, 

 it is doubtful if it is the best practice. If the 

 bodies are thought not to be stiff enough, this man- 

 ner of trimming may be used to good advantage. 

 The main shoot should usually be headed back in 

 this as in all styles of trimming, in order to make 

 the trunk stocky. 



The second method aims to start the top at the 

 required height when the tree is planted. It is 

 adapted only to strong and well grown stocks which 

 have a more or less branching and forking top. 

 From three to five of the best branches are left, 

 and these are headed back to a few buds each. 

 Fig. 25 shows a pear tree, trimmed in Fig. 26, and 

 the illustration may be considered to represent a 

 good example of its class. Many of our best plant- 



