232 



rRINCIIT.ES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



Standpoint of liranch growth, even in tlie case of the freslily dug 

 trees, as is indicated by the total growth of all trees pruned to a 

 height of ]S inches. Such evidence indicates that some of our 

 arbitrary and "rule of thumb" methods of pruning peach trees at 

 time of planting may need revising. 



A question which also arises is whether the trees of the 12 and 

 the 18-inch treatments which died back to 6 inches because branches 



failed to start near the tips 

 made as much growth as 

 trees originally pruned to r> 

 inches. The records of total 

 linear twig growth do not in- 

 dicate that the dying trunk 

 stubs had a depressing effect 

 upon growth. In fact, the 

 growth upon these trees is 

 fully equal to that of the 6- 

 inch stubs. These dying 

 stubs, however, cause the 

 branches to spread out at the 

 base, and it would be well to 

 remove such stubs as soon as 

 it is certain that they will not 

 de\'elop any branches. 



184. Length of the branches. 

 The tiital twig growth of the 

 tree is important as indicat- 

 ing general vigor. The points 

 at which the trees develop 

 branches concern the forma- 

 tion of the head of the tree. 

 The number and length of 

 the branches may also be 

 factors in the development of 

 the form of the tree. 



The largest total number 

 of branches occurred in the 

 lengths from 7 to 12 inches. 

 The largest average total 

 number of branches of all 

 lengths occurred in the 36- 

 inch treatment, and the next 

 largest average number in the 

 12-inch treatment. This is 

 the same ranking as occurred on the basis of total growth. The 

 IS-inch treatment resulted in the smallest average total number of 

 branches and it also produced the lowest average total growth. The 

 nunilier of branches regardless of their length, therefore, appears 

 to be correlated with amount of growth. We may conclude, then, 



FIG. 200 — ONE-YEAR PEACH FROM 



NURSERY— %-INCH CALIPER 

 Fij^ures indicate inches above the bud at A 



