220 



rUINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



of _voung trees practice cutting off considerable wood on 

 the outside of tlie tree and leave the centers a little dense. 

 The reverse is the better policy. Try to keep the trees 

 low headed, broad and low spreading, so as to build a 

 large framework for fruiting wood in succeeding years, 

 176. Recommendations for English walnuts. — Trees 

 should be headed at about 85 inches, and at the time they 

 arc headed a heavy stake 7 or 8 feet long should be driven 

 in the ground close to the body of the tree. The first 

 summer choose four or fi\'c laterals that will give a good 

 framework and tic these to the stake. Jf this is not done 

 they will tend to droop to the ground too much, but by 

 careful t}'ing one can keep them well in shape. The 

 following spring cut back the trees exactly as though 

 they were apples. In many walnut trees one branch may 

 grow up () or 8 feet — 3 or 4 feet higher than any of the 

 other liranches. Cut this back hard so as to bring on 

 the other branches. Generally the 

 pruning should be done just before the 

 starting of the sap flow. Formerly the 

 trees were allowed to grow three or 

 four }'ears, all laterals were taken oft 

 and llic trees grown to poles. We find 

 that when they are handled as though 

 thev were rijiples, we get more spread- 

 ing trees \vith larger fruiting areas — 

 trees wliieh will be much easier to 

 handle from the orchard management 

 pi lint (if \'iew. 



177. Recommendations for peaches. 

 The peach has a different fruiting habit 

 from au\' other trees we have men- 

 tioned (5(1). However, the aim in 

 ]iruiiing such trees the first few years 

 is mucli the same as that for other types 

 of fruit: name1\-, the building up of a 

 sti'ong framework for future years of 



POOR TYPE CH1;RI(Y 

 All the main 

 hranclles i-sm at nnc- 

 point. Note hrn\ liv^'y" 

 the tree i^. 'I h s is 

 due to insiiHiei' r !ie;Ki- 

 inu hael: the lit I two 

 years. Headin," this 

 ttee haek twiee a '/ear 

 mi^ht hjvc been i,el[i- 

 ful. 



