Pruning and Thinning 



261 



Central leader system. 



By this method one central 

 leader is allowed to develop year 

 after year until its increasing 

 height is naturally checked as the 

 tree begins fruiting. Such lat- 

 eral branches are allowed to re- 

 main as will not crowd and will 

 give the best distribution and bal- 

 ance in later years. The lateral 

 branches are considerably smaller 

 than the central leader and strong 

 unions are formed. While this 

 system of pruning has never been 

 widely practiced by commercial 

 fruit-growers, it has had some 

 popularity, especially for dwarfs 

 and certain varieties such as the 

 Jonathan and members of the Ben Davis group. 

 Fig. 5.) 



FIG. 5. A well 

 pruned young Jonathan 

 tree trained to the cen- 

 tral leader form. 



(See 



Advantages. 



1. Strong trees are produced. Crotches seldom split apart. 



2. Great skill is not required to inaugurate and adhere to 

 this type of pruning. 



3. Trees like the Ehode Island Greening and Jonathan with 

 tendencies to develop low drooping side branches lend them- 

 selves to the method. 



Disadvantages. 



1. It is difficult to keep trees opened up sufficiently to permit 

 light to penetrate to the inner parts. 



2. Trees usually become too high thereby making orchard 

 operations more difficult and expensive. 



