368 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



When transplanted the trees were two years old from 

 the bud, had been cut back in the nursery row at one year, 

 had formed half a dozen or more good branches without 

 any Y-crotches and had excellent root systems. In 

 pruning at planting time the uppermost twigs were cut 

 back most severely, the lowest ones least because growth 

 is greatest in the upper part of the trees (91). Only two 

 buds were left on the leader and the next branch or two, 

 while four or five were left on the lowest. This treatment 

 brought the leader down to within 4 or 5 inches of its 

 base (the two-year wood). 



The cut on the leader was made so that the upper bud 

 was immediately above the cut end of the previous year's 

 stem. Because of the slight crooks formed by a side bud 

 when so forced into growth (Fig. 66) the new branch 

 from this upper bud was developed vertically above the 

 original trunk of which it thus became an extension, but 

 with two slight crooks. These crooks disappeared in a 

 few years and the trunk looked perfectly straight. In a 

 similar way branches too horizontal were slightly raised 

 by pruning back to upper buds, or lowered by pruning to 

 buds beneath. Others were moved to the side by prun- 

 ing to side buds (120d). 



When finished, the branches formed pyramids with 

 bases a foot to 15 inches across and 18 to 20 high for the 

 larger specimens. By cutting in this way not only was 

 the pyramidal form secured, but the lower branches were 

 favored and the upper ones checked in developmnt. Un- 

 less this is done at the time of setting out, the trees can 

 never be made to take the desired form. 



Pruning after the first year resembles that of the first. 

 The leader is cut back severely so its upper bud will be 

 above and in continuation of the main stem, and the lower 

 and side shoots cut back less and less as the base of the 

 pyramid is approached. As the trees approached ma- 

 turity, care was taken to admit light and air by judicious 

 thinning and removal of the interior shoots. Except the 



