PRUNING YOUNG TREES 



193 



FIG. 154 



MODIFIED LEADER 



Five-year Bartlett pear 



after pruning. 



FIG. 155 

 MODIFIED LEADER 



Same tree as Fig. 

 154 pruned. Note how 

 little wood has been 

 removed in thinning 

 out; almost no heading 

 back. 



FIG. 156 

 GOOD MODIFIED 



LEADER 



Five-year Bartlett pear 

 before pruning. 



much as possible against sun scald. 

 In Western Oregon 20 to 25 inches is 

 considered a better height of head. Many growers have 

 felt that 20 to 25 inches is the proper height for apples and 

 pears. Peaches should be headed as low as they can be 

 grown ; cherries at about 25 inches ; prunes 30 to 35 inches. 

 It was formerly believed that walnuts should be headed 

 very high, 7 or 8 feet, and no laterals allowed to 

 grow the first few years ; but this is now considered a 

 mistake. About 35 inches will make a splendid head for 

 walnuts. 



159. Season for pruning. In the Northwest, only two 

 seasons for pruning are considered ; namely, winter and 

 summer. There is no question that in the Northwest, 

 where mild winter conditions prevail, winter pruning may 

 be done safely in most years at any time when the trees 

 are dormant. In sections of severe winter conditions, de- 

 laying the pruning as late as possible before the growth 

 starts in the spring seems to be wisest. Very rarely good 



