PRUNING YOUNG TREES 



223 



At the end of the first year choose four or five of the 

 best spaced branches and cut them back on an average 

 of 8 to 12 inches. Not much summer pruning is practiced 

 for peaches. By the end of the second year the tree 

 should be cut back again so it will be 3^ to 4J^ feet high. 

 Constantly train the tree to 

 spread by cutting to outside 

 buds, constantly forcing the 

 tree to make a broad, spread- 

 ing top, rather than to allow it 

 to shoot up in the air. It takes 

 more nerve than the average 

 grower has to cut the tree as 

 hard as indicated, but it is nec- 

 essary if one is to keep it near 

 the ground and have profitable 

 fruiting. 



It will be necessary to cut 

 off about two-thirds of the last 

 year's wood from the inside of 

 the tree. Practice this con- 

 stantly with the peach. The 

 aim should be to keep the 

 center open so as to give light 

 and develop strong wood. Cut 

 out all weak wood and limit the 

 amount of annual wood so what 

 is left may grow strong. It 

 will be only on the strong wood that large peaches will 

 grow. Growers, however, may go to extremes in grow- 

 ing vigorous wood. If the wood becomes too vigorous 

 the first two crops will be borne on the ends of the shoots 

 and it will be almost impossible to prune the trees and 

 still have any fruit. Medium-sized wood is more de- 

 sirable. If the wood is getting too vigorous be sparing 

 in the pruning and it will tend to check the trees. A little 

 summer pruning may be used to advantage where the 







FIG. 188 



FIVE-BRANCHED TREE AT END 

 OF FIRST SEASON 



