190 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OI" PRUNING 



under all conditions found in the Pacific Northwest [or 

 elsewhere]. 



155. The so-called leader tree has been used largely in 

 the East on the Atlantic Seaboard, and is used somewhat 

 on the Pacific Coast, especially in British Columbia. There 

 are a few orchards in the Pacific Northwest where the 

 growers believe the leader to be the best type. With the 

 leader tree, since the center branch is always allowed 

 to have the ascendency, the tree grows more or less to 

 the true pyramid. The growers obtain very large trees, 

 which are, however, very difficult to keep low headed 

 and open. The trees are probably stronger, there being 

 less breakage from this type of tree than from the so- 

 called open tree. 



FIG. 150— VIGOROUS SHOOT PRODUCED FROM OLD BARTLETT PEAR SPUR 



The shoot was pruned and is now in healthy condition. Note the number of 

 fruit buds at a. 



156. The modified leader. — In this type we start the 

 trees exacll}' as though we were going to grow the center 

 leader, but, ])eginning with the second to the fifth year, 

 the leader is suppressed. The advantages are that this 

 tvpe of tree allows us to si)ace the branches well, to build 

 strong crotches and main frame limbs, and at the same 

 time keeps the tree relatively close to the ground. This 

 type is growing in favor where it has been tried through- 

 out the Northwest. 



With any of these types, weak trees or strong trees 

 may be built, and also bushy or open trees may be se- 

 cured with any one of the three systems. [It depends 

 upon the handling.] 



