248 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



growers would rather have a dormant bud than a two-year-old 

 tree, and cases have been reported from dormant buds outgrowing 

 yearling trees planted at the same time in the same orchard. But 

 in growing from a dormant bud in the orchard care should be 

 taken to develop a short trunk, with properly-spaced branches, by 

 pinching the side shoots near the ground. Trees started from dor- 

 mant bud and allowed to branch from the ground, have developed 

 very unsatisfactory form, and have, in some situations, lost their 

 lower branches by the wind. The tree should have a low head, 

 but a short trunk seems to give a better tree, and more elasticity 

 to the branches. 



PRUNING THE APRICOT 



Of all the California orchard trees, the apricot seems most in 

 need of the constant attention of the orchardist to give it proper 

 shape and strength. It is a rampant grower, and in its zealous 

 haste for size and fruitage it over-reaches itself and becomes the 

 prey of specific gravity and wind force. Thousands of trees have 

 been ruined by literally breaking to pieces with the weight of their 

 fruit, and being torn by winds of only ordinary velocity. Thou- 

 sands more have been rescued from such a fate by bolting the 

 branches to each other. This excessive growth and consequent 

 weakness of the apricot is greater in some parts of the State than 

 in others, because of the difference in degree of forcing conditions, 

 but everywhere the apricot needs watchfulness and timely aid in 

 building up its strength. The general principles to be observed 

 in securing branches strongly attached to a short trunk have 

 already been discussed at length in the chapter on pruning. 



There has been a very marked change during the last few years 

 of the pruning of the apricot. Summer pruning, immediately after 

 the fruit is picked, has become much more general, and winter 

 pruning has proportionally decreased. The new practice is cer- 

 tainly more rational than the old. Young trees are winter pruned 

 to promote low branching and short, stout limbs ; bearing trees 

 are summer pruned to promote fruit bearing and check wood 

 growth the excess of bearing shoots being removed by thinning 

 during the winter. 



The apricot tree bears upon old spurs, like the plum ; also upon 

 the new wood, like the peach* This fact has to be borne in mind 

 when winter thinning of the new growth is undertaken. 



A very clear record of procedure is given by J. B. Neff, of Ana- 

 heim, Orange County, who built up one of the best apricot orchards 

 in the State as he describes. This orchard has been displaced to 

 make way for English walnut trees which are more profitable in 

 that district, but that was no fault of the pruning : 



