SHAPING THE YOUNG TREE 



215 



Although peach trees are planted when they 

 are one year old, they have generally been 

 trimmed up in the nursery, so that the lower 

 branches are destroyed. The 

 tendency for such trees is to 

 throw out branches near the 

 top, and it is often impos- 

 sible to make them branch 

 within two feet of the 

 ground, where many people 

 desire that the top shall 

 arise. Fig. 143 is a tree 

 which has thrown out two 

 sets of branches, one near 

 the top of the long trunk, 

 and the other near the base. 

 After this tree has grown 

 one season, it may be cut 

 off at the point indicated 

 by the bar ; and the tree 

 should then make a low and 

 vase -formed top, like that 

 shown in Fig. 124. 



Balmer gives the follow- 

 ing advice* for the pruning 143 - Opportunity for a 

 of young trees in Wash- 

 ington (and the same advice will apply to 

 California, or to any place in which low heads 

 are desired) : 



*Pruning Orchard Trees, Bull. 2^, Wash. Kxp. St;i. S.>. also pa-,'.- 1ST 



