268 Good Form of Young Prune. 
rior localities the tree grows with great rapidity and branches 
more freely. During the third summer it will bear some fruit 
if not cut back the previous winter and, where growth is so 
rapid, there is little danger of injuring the tree by early bearing. 
In the coast valleys cutting back may continue another year, 
and fruiting be thus postponed a year to get another summer’s 
freer wood growth. 
French Prune—Second Summer’s Form. 
Though cutting back may properiy cease early with the 
French prune, it is a great mistake to allow the trees to go un- 
pruned. Removal of defective wood, prevention of branch 
crowding and overbearing are of the highest importance, as 
insisted upon in the chapter on pruning. 
Special Study of Varieties in Pruning. —The points just ad- 
vanced apply especially to the management of the French prune. 
How far other varieties may be benefited by it must be deter- 
mined by the grower by study of the habit of the variety he has 
to deal with. The general rules for handling trees with differ- 
ent habits of growth are applicable to a certain extent to the 
plum. When to apply a rule or make an exception must be 
learned by observation and experience. Some plums, like the 
