84 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



It should also be stated here that the requirements of 

 apple trees have been foremost in mind in the following 

 pages. The same principles will apply, however, to all 

 other kinds of fruit, with the possible exception of the 

 peach. 



High and Low Heads; Sun-scald 



The proper formation of the top is by no means the least 

 important reason for cutting back the branches of newly 

 planted trees. In the first place, the importance of low- 

 headed trees for this climate cannot be too strongly 

 emphasized. Hundreds of trees are dying in all parts of 

 the West because of the exposure of the long trunks to the 

 afternoon sun, either directly or by reflection, from hot 

 dry soil in summer or from snow in winter. Young 

 trees are especially liable to injury, which results in early 

 death or a weak, sickly growth, from which they never 

 recover. There is less injury from sun-scald in the hu- 

 mid states, but in those districts many authorities are 

 advocating lower-headed trees. 



In addition to forming low heads, there can be no 

 question but that it pays still further to protect the trunks 

 of newly planted trees from injury by sun-scald. Various 

 devices are used, such as wrapping the trunks with burlap, 

 paper, straw, wood veneer, or by shading the trunk on the 

 southwest side with a thin piece of board set upright in 

 the ground. Whitewashing the young trunks to serve 

 the same purpose has come to be extensively used in some 

 sections. Whatever method is adopted, it should be 

 employed soon after the trees are planted and continued 

 in good condition through the second winter, or until the 

 shade of the trees becomes ample. 



