CALIFORNIA OLIVE CULTURE PRUNING. 



37 



prevents the stem from sunburning and promotes root growth. 

 The following year all this growth should be removed, except 

 four or five branches properly distributed at the point where 

 the head is to be formed, and these should be shortened in* to 

 within six or eight inches of the body of the tree. The year 

 after, these branches, in turn, should be shortened in at least 

 one half, and should any new branches have started from the 

 main body they should be removed. This shortening-in 

 method will cause the stem and body of the tree to become 

 strong and stocky, so that when the tree is old enough to bear 

 fruit it will not break down or require support to prevent the 

 branches from breaking off. The natural tendency of nearly 

 all the olives is to shoot upward, like a poplar, and unless this 

 method of shortening-in is carefully followed every year, it is 

 only a question of a short time when all the fruit will be 

 on the top of the tree. It must be borne in mind that pruning 

 is just as essential to the olive as to the peach or pear, for the 

 shortening-in of the branches promotes young growth through- 

 out the entire tree, and the fruit is evenly distributed and is 

 not all on the top. If not pruned, an olive will come into 

 bearing in three years in this valley, but the vitality of the tree 

 will be greatly impaired and when old enough to produce a 

 full crop it will fail to do so." 



Vase or Goblet Form. In districts along the coast and in 

 the bay counties, where fogs and cool atmospheric conditions 

 prevail, especially during 

 ripening time, the "vase" 

 or " goblet" form of prun- 

 ing the olive is becoming 

 more popular every year. 

 The position of an olive 

 grove in relation to the 

 sun appears to be of great 

 importance, for growers 

 have experienced that by 

 pruning the olive in this 

 form, opening the top of 

 the tree thoroughly to the 

 sun, the fruit matures 

 more evenlv and earlier. 



. -i-ii-ii j 



The tree IS well hollowed 



Tree pruned by the vase or goblet form in 

 orchard of E. E. Goodrich, Santa Clara. 



