PRUNING MATURE TREES 



255 



as the fruit has been gathered. The result is a strength- 

 ened growth of the laterals that have already started. 

 These laterals produce fruit buds for the following 

 year's crop. Just how far this method may be applicable 

 to other parts of the country remains to be seen. So far as 

 the author is aware, it has not come into prominence in 

 orchard practice east of the Rockies but there are few 



FIG. 217 POOR GROWTH OF PEACH TREE NOT PRUNED AFTER SEVERE 

 WINTER INJURY 



commercial apricot orchards in this great area! In some 

 of the mountain states the practice has been followed by 

 a good deal of winterkilling, but this has been more or 

 less balanced by tardy bloom, the flowers appearing sev- 

 eral days later than on trees not summer pruned and 



