238 PRINCIPLES AND FRACTICE OF PRUNING 



tree is allowed to follow its natural propensities, as tlie fruit limbs and 

 fruit spurs will develop each year in the part of the frame built in 

 previous years. It must be remembered while building the frame- 

 work of the tree that fruit limbs and fruit spurs are being developed 

 also, and care must be exercised during the building process not to 

 trim out these fruit limbs or fruit spurs except where they are tofi 

 thick. Never crop off the ends of the fruit limbs or fruit spurs. 



The question when to begin to build or train a lemon tree is an 

 important one. When the bud sprout grown from the seedling 

 stock has reached a height in the nursery so it may be cut off at a 

 point where there is matured wood, 32 to 'M inches from the ground, 

 is the time to l)egin training and developing the tree. Up to this 

 time it has had to be held up by stakes and given every care, not 

 having Ijeen trusted to its own propensities. Now, it is to be cut 

 back. On the little stick or stem will be built a crown as a founda- 

 tion of the tree. The heiglit of cutting back to begin the framework 

 is a matter of choice with the orchardist. I prefer a crown started 

 within 32 to 34 inches of the ground. Four branches or crown 

 limbs are allowed to grow out from tlie stem, no one being opposite 

 another. It is not always possible to carry out this particular plan 

 in the crowning of the tree, but in most cases the limbs can be 

 .'ipaced so as not to allow one to come exactly opposite another (127). 

 1 prefer to have only two limbs with the center stem, if it be not 

 possible to grow four without having one opposite another. Three 

 crown limbs are enough and four are plenty. 



It is dangerous to make cuts too long the lirst two or three years, 

 as long cuts mean small limbs and weak frames. If the tree is 

 planted early and makes a good growth, the first pruning may be 

 necessary in August or September. This will be the thinning out 

 of the top branches and cutting back rather short those limlis which 

 are needed to make part of the framework. By first pruning I do 

 not mean suckering or rubbing off the water sprouts, etc. It is 

 very important to keep the tree, especially the trunk, free from 

 suckers. 



A young tree should be watched very closely the first two or 

 three years. If it forms the habit of suckering, especially on its 

 trunk, there will be trouble in starting the sap in full flow through 

 the limbs and foliage of the tree. .Also allowing the suckers to 

 grow stunts the growth of the tree. Therefore, the suckers should 

 be taken off when they are so tender that they can be rubbed ofl^ with 

 the hand. Rulibing them when they are very tender prevents knots 

 from forming on the trunk or limbs. These I believe retard the free 

 flow of the sap. 



In pruning a lemon tree planted nine months in the orchard the 

 tall branches are cut back very short for the next deck or frame- 

 work. This close cutting is done to develop strength in the crown 

 of the tree before a heavy top growth is developed. Although this 

 tree is only nine months old, some short, healthy wood developed 



