STEM- AKD TOP-GRO^TTH, ETC. 23 



sawed off, shov,- most growth on the north side. Trees of 

 thirty species sawed off at Ames, Iowa, showed the heart 

 to be well over to the south side. Even with a stem three 

 feet in height the young orchard-tree is apt to lean to the 

 north if the top is not inclined to the south when trans- 

 planted. 



26. Stem-protection. — In California, in starting orchards 

 of the citrus and other fruits, stem-protection, while the 

 tree is getting some spread of top, is given by rived shakes 

 or boards on the south side. In the prairie States the 

 most approved plan of shading is with a lath screen 

 attached together with wires as shown in Pig. 5. 



But the writer's long experience is not favorable to 

 long-continued stem-protection. When finally discon- 

 tinued the bark is softened by the prolonged shading and 

 not in proper condition for sudden exposure to wind and 

 sun. The low stem and the inclination of the stem to the 

 south in planting is all that is needed with hardy trees. 



27. Proper Mode of Branching. — It is usually the case 

 that nursery trees as received for planting are not in 

 proper shape for the orchard. Some slight changes can 

 be made at time of setting out, but the main pruning 

 should be given after one year's growth. If a young tree 

 has too high a top, is forked, or is too high and slim, it 

 can be shaped the second year, taking care to cut so as to 

 leave buds for forming an evenly shaped and balanced top. 

 The peach will bear more pruning when set than other 

 orchard fruits. It is common in peach-growing sections 

 to cut the tops as closely as shown in Fig. 6. In the 

 illustration the stem is too long, but this is changed by 

 allowing buds to start lower down the next season. A 

 main fault with nursery-grown apple-trees is usually that 

 the top is too high and the stem too slim. The needed 

 pruning to start a properly shaped top is shown at Fig. 7. 



