third of its length. It may seem a crime to you to 

 sacrifice all this wood from your little trees, which 

 are none too big any way, but do not be tempted 

 not to do so. This method should be used with one year 

 old trees, and small slim trees. 



The second method is to start the "head" of the tree 

 when it is set. Three of four of the best of the branches 

 are retained, but are cut back so that only from four 

 to eight buds are left on each. The main stem is cut 

 back to just above the uppermost of these selected 



FIG. 9. 

 Young tree (apple) with 

 head started at time of 

 planting ; t branches evenly 

 distributed both up-and- 

 down and around trunk. 



FIG. 10. 

 Young tree (apple) after 

 second pruning ; each branch 

 treated much as thous^ it 

 were a young tree. 



branches; and everything else is cut away clean to the 

 main stem. As this method determines the ultimate 

 form or shape of the tree, one must have a general idea 

 as to just what type of tree is wanted. If the head is to 

 be "low" the branches left should not be over two feet 

 from the ground for apples and cherries and pears; and 

 not over eighteen inches for peaches and plums. A 

 point of the utmost importance in selecting the branches 

 to be retained is to see that no two of them form a crotch 

 — that is, they must not spring from opposite each other 

 on the main stem. They should be distributed as evenly 

 as possible along the stem and around it. As the main 



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