PRUNING YOUNG TREES 



225 



;. 190— PLAN OF TREE TOP AFTER ONE 

 SEASON'S GROWTH IN ORCHARD 

 Numbers indicate primary and secondary 

 brandies and the little cross lines the posi- 

 tions to make pruning cuts. 



the selected scaffold 

 branches to a height of sev- 

 eral feet ! 



179. Outline of the ex- 

 periments. — The object of 

 this article is to report the 

 results of pruning studies 

 with peach trees at various 

 heights at the time of plant- 

 ing, studies which attempt 

 to note the effect of such 

 pruning upon the total 

 growth of the trees and up- 

 on the form, vigor and de- 

 velopment of the branches. 

 In any study of this sort 

 two general types of results 

 are to be looked for : those 

 that concern the welfare of 

 the plant from a botanical 

 and plant growth stand- 

 point, and those which are 

 increly commercial. Some 

 differences in results may be 

 expected, depending upon 



whether the trees are freshly dug from the nursery at time of plant- 

 ing, or whether they have become severely dried out for some rea- 

 son before planting. The variety may also lie 



a factor, as would certainly the grade or size 



of the trees. 



Although "June buds" are used to some ex- 

 tent in New Jersey for planting, most growers 



purchase one-year-old trees, hence these 



studies are confined to trees of that age. Such 



trees are commonly graded by height and 



caliper. Trees of the same height may vary 



considerably in stockiness or caliper as grown 



in different nurseries, so the caliper method is 



the better basis for a study of differences in 



vigor. As representing common sizes offered 



for sale the following sizes of trees were used 



in the experiment : caliper Ji, 54, -5^, ^ and 



•i^-inch. The pruning treatments studied were 



as follows: 1, not pruned; 2, back to 36-inch 



trunks; to 30-inch; to 24-inch; to 18-inch; to 



12-inch ; to 6-inch. 

 One of the principal objects of cutting back 



the tops of trees at the time of planting is to 



reduce the twig surface to balance the loss 



FIG. 191 

 ENGLISH WALNUT 

 This three-year tree 

 is properly staked. In 

 pruning, the two lowest 

 laterals should be cut 

 and last year's growth 

 cut back. The tree was 

 headed at 30 inches. 

 It would be better if 

 5 or 6 inches higher. 



