122 Pruning the Peach. 
after growing out two or three inches, leaving a bunch of leaves 
to shade the trunk and contribute to its stouter growth. Con- 
stant watchfulness is necessary io pinch off undesirable branches 
all the first summer. 
First Pruning.—In the winter following planting, the pre- 
vious season’s growth is cut back to about ten or twelve inches 
from their junction with the stem. Some prefer to cut shorter, 
but this is apt to huddle the branches too close together when 
they get old and stout. Growers, however, do not agree on the 
exact length which these future main branches should be left 
at the first pruning. 
If, during the first summer’s growth, all shoots except the 
number desired to form the head have been pinched back, the 
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Yearling peach. Cut back at planting. First summer’s growth in the orchard. 
first winter pruning consists only in cutting back the main 
branches. If laterals have grown on the parts of these branches 
which are to be left on the tree, they should be cut back to a bud 
or two. This is better than removing them entirely, for the 
next summer they will be pinched after throwing out a few leaves 
to shade and thicken the branches, just as the short growths 
left the previous summer serve the main stem. 
