124 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



planting, but to leave a longer trunk, keep a greater distance be- 

 tween the main branches and still have the lowest branch as near 

 the ground as before, thus securing a tree which is practically as 

 low as that secured by the old method of starting. This point will 

 be enforced by illustrations. 



HOW TO SECURE THE DESIRABLE FORM 



For the benefit of the inexperienced reader, it will be well to 

 illustrate the steps by which the form of tree found so generally 

 desirable is to be attained. 



Cutting Back at Planting. This has been shown on page 116 to 

 be essential to strong growth of -the transplanted tree. It is also the 

 prime act in securing a tree with a low head and strong branches, 

 formerly trees were cut back farther than desirable and the branches 

 allowed to crowd each other, as has just been stated. It is better to 

 retain twenty-four inches of stem than twelve inches providing 

 care is taken during the first summer to prevent, by pinching, the 

 growth of too many branches near together. Allow those to grow 

 which are more distant from each other on the stem and pinch the 

 intervening shoots. In this way one can have the lowest branch 

 at six inches from the ground in the hot valleys if desired, or twelve 

 inches in the coast valleys, and the highest branch at eighteen or 



Pruning for branch spacing. 



Yearling apple marked to cut back for greater 

 or less space between main branches; also first 

 year's growth from each beginning marked for first 

 winter pruning. 



