CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



If, during the first summer's growth, all shoots except the num- 

 ber desired to form the head have been pinched back, the first winter 

 pruning consists only in cutting back the main branches. If laterals 

 have grown on the parts of these branches which are to be left on the 

 tree, they should be cut back to a bud or two. This is better than 

 removing them entirely, for the next summer they will be pinched 

 after throwing out a few leaves to shade and thicken tlie branches, 

 just as the short growths left the previous summer serve the main 

 stem. 



Second Pruning. During the second summer it is usual to allow 

 two branches to grow from each of the main branches left at the pre- 

 vious winter pruning, and to pinch off all others, as described. 

 These branches are allowed to run out their full growth, except 

 where excessive growth is made, and then it is repressed by summer 

 pruning. This is done with the apricot in the warmer parts of the 

 State, as will be considered at length in the chapter on that fruit. 

 Usually, however, the main branches are untouched during the sec- 

 ond summer's growth unless some are running out so far as to make 

 the tree lop-sided. During the following winter the main branches 

 are cut back from one-half to two-thirds of the growth they have 

 made, and if too many strong laterals have grown below this point, 

 some are shortened, others are removed entirely where they are apt 

 to cross of crowd each other or to interfere with cultivation. It is 

 not desirable, however, that all small growth should be cleanly 

 removed. Some of these small shoots will bear a little fruit and the 

 leaf action is in any case desirable as a contributor to the strength of 

 the larger branches to which they are attached. Besides, they serve 

 to shade the bark from sunburn. 



Third Pruning. When the tree reaches its third winter pruning, 

 its form is well outlined, and early-bearing trees like the peach, apri- 

 cot, almond, Japanese plum, etc., will give the grower a respectable 

 crop the next season. To bear this crop greater care should be 

 taken at the third winter pruning to leave the small laterals low 

 down on the main branches, for on them, clustered close in the head 

 of the tree, most of the first crop will be found. Though some trees, 

 as stated, do bear earlier than the third summer, the fruit is not 

 usually considered of commercial account until the third summer. 

 An engraving is given of a peach tree just after its second winter 

 pruning. It is a very good representative of the vase-form of a tree 

 as grown in California. It has four main branches, each issuing 

 from a different point on the stem, each permitted to carry two 

 main branches, which are not arranged around the circumference, 

 but some of them tending toward the center. At the third pruning 

 more shoots have been left than are required by the rule, for, start- 

 ing with four main branches, there are usually sixteen left at the 

 third pruning. 



