66 Fruitgrowingunder Irrigation 



winter's pruning two short secondary arms should 

 be left to each arm, pruned back, as in the case just 

 mentioned, to about 6 inches to outward-pointing 

 buds, and all other growth removed. 



The chief object of the second winter's pruning 

 is to further shape the permanent framework of the 

 tree by the selection of wood to form the secondary 

 arms, which in most instances will not have been 

 accomplished at the first winter's pruning. 



Trees that have grown well will generally have 

 thrown two or more strong shoots from each of the 

 arms left at the previous season's pruning. Two of 

 these strong shoots, selected for their outward- 

 growing habits, are left on each of the arms, and all 

 other growth removed. Care must be taken that 

 the selected branches are as nearly as possible 

 equidistant from each other, so that the framework 

 of the tree is well balanced. The branches left for 

 secondary arms are cut back to 9 to 18 inches to 

 outward-pointing buds, more wood being left upon 

 the strong than upon weak trees. After the second 

 winter's pruning the framework of the young tree 

 should have the appearance, when viewed from 

 above, of a hollow inverted cone, .with all its 

 branches equally spaced from each other. 



At the third winter's pruning inside growth is 

 again cut right out and the leaders growing from 

 the secondary arms cut back. The more vigorous 

 the tree the longer are the leaders left; but from 18 

 inches to 2 feet of new wood will about suit the 

 average well-grown tree. 



As an apricot tree produces its main crop from 

 spurs growing out of the leaders, it is necessary to 

 have sufficient of these to ensure good average 

 crops, and from 10 to 12 leaders, situated as nearly 

 as possible equidistant from each other, makes a 

 good permanent framework of the tree. 



