124 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



stronger-growing branches, both of the current season's 

 growth. These fruiting-spurs of the apricot differ from 

 those of the cherry in the fact that they develop no 

 true terminal buds. The apparent terminal of the new 

 growth is a lateral bud and may be either a fruit-bud or a 

 branch-bud. It is generally a branch-bud, but it is 'not 

 uncommon to find weak spurs bearing only fruit-buds, and 

 such spurs, with no branch-buds to continue their growth, 

 must perish at the close of the fruiting season. 



The general plan of pruning the apricot resembles that 

 followed in pruning the peach, although, as a rule, the 

 cutting should be hardly as severe. The young tree is a 

 strong grower, and must be put through about the same 

 course of training as the young peach. This strengthens 

 or stiffens the framework and develops a broad, low- 

 headed tree. Normally the tree does not grow as much 

 new wood as the peach, and it is often possible to do the 

 greater part of the pruning by simply heading-in the 

 strong growth. The pruning should be sufficient to keep 

 the fruiting-wood growing thriftily and the tree well 

 within bounds. 



While to a certain extent pruning reduces the labor of 

 hand thinning, it will not take its place entirely. If prop- 

 erly thinned, the apricot will stand much neglect as 

 regards pruning, but proper pruning is a matter of econ- 

 omy. As the tree grows older it will need more severe 

 pruning to force new fruiting-wood in the center. The 

 absence of fruiting-wood in the center of the carelessly 

 pruned apricot tree is even more pronounced than in the 

 neglected peach tree. The top should be well spread and 

 the fruiting area of the head maintained near the ground. 



