Pruning and Thinning 



259 



a portion of the top determines 

 the height of head and encourages 

 the formation of a stocky and vig- 

 orous framework. 



The height of heading will vary 

 with the type of training to be fol- 

 lowed and the locality. Lower 

 heading is practiced with the open 

 center type of tree than with the 

 leader or modified types, as is 

 pointed out elsewhere in this chap- 

 ter. In those sections in which 

 sun-scald is prevalent, it is neces- 

 sary to head lower than where this 

 trouble is not a factor. The 

 height of heading apples at planting time may thus vary 

 from 20 to 36 inches. (See Fig. 4.) 



Fig. 4. — Showing 

 framework of a young 

 Jonathan tree. The 

 trunk is too short and 

 the branches too nearly 

 horizontal. 



TYPES OF TBAINING APPLE TEEES 



All pruning practices are applied with the idea of 

 developing the type of tree suited to the local conditions 

 or conforming to the ideas of the individual. The prun- 

 ing given trees during the first few years may be referred 

 to as training. There are several methods of training 

 apple trees, those in common use in commercial regions 

 throughout the United States being: The " natural form " ; 

 the "central leader" type; the "open center," or "vase- 

 shaped " tree ; the " double headed " type ; and the " mod- 

 ified leader," or " modified open center " tree. 



