Pruning of Deciduous Trees 65 



THE APRICOT. 



At the first winter's pruning the object of the 

 primer is to lay out the framework for a sturdy, 

 well-balanced tree. 



If when at planting the young tree had been cut 

 back to a single stick, and has grown well during 

 the spring and summer, numerous branches will 

 have grown out of the old wood. Of these, provided 

 they are well-grown and are favourably situated, 

 only three will be required to form the main arms 

 of the tree, and all other growth is cut right out. 



The three branches that are selected to form the 

 framework of the tree should be from shoots that 

 have grown away from the centre of the tree, and 

 should be as nearly as possible equidistant from 

 each other, or that a hollow-centre, cone-shaped 

 form may be attained. The height of these arms 

 where they junction on to the^stem should be from 

 9 inches to 15 inches from the ground, and it is 

 advisable, owing to the liability of the branches to 

 split where there are forks when carrying heavy 

 crops, that the main arms are not selected from 

 shoots issuing from the stem at the same place, but 

 are situated on it some distance away from each 

 other. The branches selected for the main arms 

 should be cut back to about 6 to 9 inches in the 

 case of an average well-grown tree, with the ter- 

 minal bud pointing away from the middle of the 

 tree, so that an open centre may be attained. 



Where the young tree has made four healthy, 

 well-spaced branches these may be utilized in form- 

 ing the framework of the tree, but it is not advisable 

 to leave more than four main arms to a tree at its 

 first pruning. 



If at planting trees have been felt with three short 

 arms pruned back to a few buds, then at the first 



