126 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



the spurs will show that they differ from those of the 

 apple in carrying both terminal and axillary buds, the 

 terminal, with few exceptions, being a branch-bud, and 

 those developed in the axils of the leaves mostly fruit-buds. 

 Fruit-buds are also found as axillary buds near the base 

 of the stronger-growing new wood. The cherry, then, 

 has a fruiting-habit which would indicate that the tree 

 will stand only moderate pruning. Trees overpruned 

 produce an excess of strong new wood with few fruit-buds. 

 In neglected trees the spurs become weak and spindling 

 from constant bearing, the flowers are borne singly in 

 the buds when they should be in pairs or triplets, and the 

 tree produces a large number of medium-sized fruits. 



The method of pruning will depend somewhat on the 

 variety, but the general plan should be to keep the fruiting 

 area of the tree as near the ground as possible; to shade 

 the trunk to prevent sun-scald; and to encourage the 

 growth of fruiting- wood throughout the entire top. 



The sweet and semi-sweet varieties are upright growers, 

 and will need some heading-in to keep them within bounds. 

 The rapid growth forced by pruning must be checked 

 by careful watering. Unless this precaution is heeded, 

 immature growth will result, and young trees may be 

 killed outright in severe winters. Like the Anjou pear, 

 some of the cherries produce an excess of weak fruit- 

 buds that fail to set fruit. When this is found to be the 

 case, it is a good sign that the tree is not being pruned as 

 severely as it should be. Heavy pruning in the dormant 

 season will often correct this fault. On the contrary, 

 lack of bloom is generally due to excessive pruning or 

 overwatering. Occasionally we find a variety in which 



