90 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



The position of the buds on the branches is of consid- 

 erable importance in pruning. For example, one would 

 not expect a bud situated on the lower side of a nearly 

 horizontal limb to develop an upright growth compar- 

 able to one on the upper side. In general, then, one 

 should cut off the branches just above a bud that points in 

 the general direction it is hoped the branch will take. 

 One cannot hope to overcome varietal growth entirely, 

 but it may be modified. By cutting to outside buds, the 

 upright-growing kinds may be spread somewhat, and simi- 

 larly the spreading varieties may be contracted by cutting 

 to inside buds. 



As soon as the trees are planted, the top should be cut 

 back as described above. With yearling trees a profusion 

 of branches will be pushed out, the lowest of which should 

 be removed or cut back to one or two buds. By the time 

 these branches begin to grow, the roots are established, 

 and new ones formed, so that an adequate supply of food 

 materials is provided. It will be remembered, however, 

 that the plant cannot use these materials until they have 

 been made over into food in the leaves. It is for this 

 reason that a large leaf surface is necessary; and this sur- 

 face is also desirable to afford shade protection from the 

 sun. 



The kind of top which the tree is to assume is de- 

 veloped with the first season's pruning, which should be 

 begun in most sections not earlier than the first of March. 

 If performed earlier, a longer time must elapse before the 

 wounds can heal, and necessarily the cut surfaces are ex- 

 posed that much longer to the drying action of the sun, 

 wind, and frost. It is commonly understood among 



