PEARS, PEACHES, QUINCES, ETC. 163 



Pruning for Planting. 



Most large growers of the peach trim the young trees, 

 before planting, back to a single cane " whipstock, " 

 cutting the end back to from two to three feet long, 

 allowing the head of the 

 tree to be formed upon 

 this single cane. Others 

 cut the tree down to 

 within two or three inches 

 of the bud and allow only 

 one bud to grow thus near 

 the ground, upon which 

 lateral branches are 

 formed at regular inter- 

 vals from one to two feet 

 from the ground. The 

 latter method will pro- FlG> 58 _ A Peach Tree Unpruned for 

 duce the best tree in Four Years, 



shape, but it will require more attention until the 

 head is pretty well established. During the early sum- 

 mer, until the head is well formed, the young trees must 

 have constant attention, pinching back or rubbing off 

 all shoots not desired to form a perfect head. The aim 

 should be to produce a regularly formed head with a 

 leader in the center. Fig. 57 shows a peach orchard 

 in Massachusetts three years old. 



After Pruning. 



At the end of the first season's growth we should have 

 a conical formed tree with three or. four main branches 

 starting at from one to three feet from the ground. 

 Before growth begins the second year the strongest of 

 these should be 'cut back from one-half or two-thirds 

 their length, to give perfect form, and cutting out here 



