Trimming the Young Plant. 249 
There are two general methods of trimming the 
tops of young trees at planting time. One method 
cuts back all the branches to spurs of from one to 
three buds; or sometimes, particularly with dwarf 
pears set when two years old, the side branches may 
be eut entirely away, leaving only the buds on the 
main stem or trunk. The tree, therefore, “ feathers 
out” the first season; that is, it makes many small 
shoots along the main trunk. The following fall or 
spring, the top is started at the desired height. 
Fig. 23 shows a peach tree as received from the 
nursery, and Fig. 24 the same tree, trimmed in this 
manner, ready for planting. This method is the one 
generally best adapted to the peach, which is always 
set when a year old; but for other fruits, unless 
the trees are slender and without good, branchy tops, 
it is doubtful if it is the best practice. If the 
bodies are thought not to be stiff enough, this man- 
ner of trimming may be used to good advantage. 
The main shoot should usually be headed back in 
this as in all styles of trimming, in order to make 
the trunk stocky. 
The second method aims to start the top at the 
required height when the tree is planted. It is 
adapted only to strong and well grown stocks which 
have a more or less branching and forking top. 
From three to five of the best branches are left, 
and these are headed back to a few buds each. 
Fig. 25 shows a pear tree, trimmed in Fig. 26, and 
the illustration may be considered to represent a 
good example of its class. Many of our best plant- 
