206 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



which it must establish a new union before it can 

 resume the normal activities. Trees which are 

 allowed to carry too much top when planted may 

 fail outright to grow; or if they start, they are 

 very likely to be overtaken by the droughts of 

 summer. Even if they live, the growth is gen- 

 erally small and uncertain, and the tree may fall 

 a prey to borers or a victim to high winds. On 

 the other hand, trees may be trimmed too severely 

 when set. Except possibly in the case of peaches, 

 it is probably unwise to trim the trees to a mere 

 pole; and with peaches, it may be better to leave 

 spurs with at least one bud than to trim to a whip. 

 There should be a number of strong, bright buds 

 left upon the top, for these are the points where 

 early and active growth begins. These buds are 

 upon strong branches. If they are removed, the 

 weaker or half dormant buds upon the main trunk 

 or low down in the crotches must take up the 

 work, and these start slowly and often feebly. 



"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 



