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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



back, may be doubted, but the new growth secured by cutting back 

 will be of immense vigor and the following year will bear large fruit, 

 while the new growth on the tree not cut back will be thin and short 

 and the fruit absent or indifferent. The weaker the tree or the 

 branch or the twig of the tree, the greater the part of it to be 

 removed when dormant to get the stronger new growth. 



In the case of fruit trees in vigorous growth pruning during the 

 active period or allowing the wood to go uncut during the dormant 

 period, having the same effect, viz., the promotion of fruiting. Some 



First winter pruning, 



Second summer growth in orchard. 



trees, like apricots and peaches, which bear upon new laterals, will 

 bear fruit even though heavily winter-cut, if these small laterals 

 are retained on the lower parts of the main branches. Some other 

 trees, like the prune, which bear on spurs, will delay the formation 

 of spurs if heavily winter-cut. These two facts suggest two diverse 

 policies in pruning bearing trees : A peach tree unpruned will 

 reduce its crop for lack or weakness of new laterals ; a prune tree too 

 severely winter-pruned will reduce its crop for lack of old spurs. 

 Again, some fruits, or varieties of fruits, bear chiefly upon the tips, 

 others chiefly upon the lateral spurs ; shortening one reduces the 

 crop largely ; shortening the other may increase the marketable 

 crop by decreasing the aggregate number. These and other similar 

 facts suggest that pruning bearing trees, to be intelligently pursued. 



