STRONG TREES FROM A RIGHT START 



127 



PRUNING BEARING TREES 



Three winter primings of deciduous trees usually establish their 

 )ermanent form, and subsequent pruning is chiefly directed toward 

 :he retention of that form ; for strength of branch and stem ; for 

 enewal of bearing wood ; for regulation of amount of bear- 

 ig wood; for relative light and shade, and for convenience 

 in cultivation and other orchard work. Naturally, these ends 

 are sought according to the needs and habits of different fruits, 

 and the methods of attaining them will be discussed in the chapters 

 treating of these fruits. There are, however, certain general con- 

 siderations which are proper in this connection : 



Pruning during the dormancy of the tree induces greater growth 

 of wood during the following summer; pruning during the active 

 period reduces wood growth and promotes fruit-bearing. The 

 amount of wood removed during the dormant period will make the 

 summer growth of wood proportionately stronger. Whether the 

 total weight of wood growth would be greater may be questioned, 

 but the effective wood growth is certainly greater. Whether the 

 feet of new wood grown on a peach tree cut back to stumps in the 

 winter would be. greater in weight than all the inches of growth 

 which would be scattered all over the surface of the tree if not cut 



Yearling peach. Cut back at planting. 



First summer's growth in the 

 orchard. 



These sketches, and those on pages 98 and 99, represent the progress of the 

 peach tree from a branched yearling to bearing form entering the third summer. 



