91 



The Almond* 



Duriag the first few years almond trees are pruned as for other deciduous 

 trees, a well-shaped, open tree being obtamed, with about 12 leaders. Weeping 

 or spreading varieties should be encouraged to grow uiore upright, by pruning 

 hard to an inside bud or an upward lateral if the branches go too wide or low- 

 spreading. Upright varieties should be encouraged to spread by pruning well 

 above an outside bud or to an outside lateral, the lateral of course being cut 

 back slightly according to its strength and the length required. 





t^A^li 





Mg. 107. 

 Five year old Almoiifl prniiecl. 



The almond is inclined to throw a mass of laterals as well as a bunch of top 

 growth from the extremities of the leaders cut the previous season. This bunch 

 of leaders should be thinned out, leaving only two to form a fork, as wide as possible 

 and the lateral gi-owth should be thinned out, and those laterals M'hicli are retained 

 should be shortened back. 



For three years the pruning is fairly hard, but in the fourth year the leaders 

 are left about 18 inches long, while at the fifth pruning the leaders are left from 

 2ft. to 2ft. 6in. long, pruning above the cluster of laterals to be found halfway up 



