PRUNING YOUNG TREES 



219 



as cherry wood is softer than that of most pomaceous 

 fruits. 



175. Recommendations for prunes and plums. The 

 recommendations for apple trees apply very closely. The 

 trees are generally headed higher than any of our other 

 fruits, 30 to 35 inches. Some growers, however, are head- 

 ing at 20 to 25. The tree never becomes extremely high- 

 headed, and 

 since most of 

 the fruit, which 

 is to be evap- 

 orated, is al- 

 lowed to drop 

 on the ground 

 before harvest- 

 ing, the height 

 of the head 

 from the har- 

 vesting point of 

 view does not 

 need any con- 

 sideration. 

 However, 

 growers will 

 probably get 

 better results 

 by constantly 

 suppressing ter- 

 minal growth 

 a n d thinning 

 out the centers 

 where these be- 

 come too dense, so as to allow the development of 

 strong wood. Do not overdo this, however, by removing 

 all small laterals, spurs and secondary branches. Also, 

 do not remove too much wood from the outside of the 

 tree, and yet keep the tree fairly open. Many growers 



FIG. 183 FIRE-BLIGHT HANDLING KIT 

 Corrosive sublimate in bottle. One tablet to a pint of 

 water makes a 1 to 1000 part solution. The can con- 

 taining the sponge is fastened to the belt. The largest 

 bottle is similarly fastened. It is uncorked and tilted 

 to wet the sponge in the can when necessary. The pole 

 pruner has a sponge to swab cuts as made. A wooden 

 bucket with a large sponge to clean out cankers completes 

 the outfit. 



