CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



87 



PRUNING 



^Ir. C. P. Taft. Avho Avas questioned relative to one of the 

 famous trees of Southern Cahfornia. grown on his place at Orange, 

 which is known as the original of the Taft variety, said that it had 

 been heavily pruned, but in order to obtain bud Avood rather than 

 for shaping the tree. He Avas in doubt as to Avhether this had 

 delayed the fruiting or lessened the amount of production. Along 

 this line he said a medium sized tree that had borne fruit Avas badly 

 damaged by a Avind storm — one side bloAvn off — and that for the 

 next three and a half years it dcA'oted all its energies to rebuilding 

 Avood. Last year it regained its normal size and noAv has one 

 thousand fruits on it. ^Ir. Taft Avill prune only Avhen he thinks it 

 necessary, perhaps only in shaping the tree. Disastrous experi- 

 ences from pruning in August haA'e couA-inced him that the trees 

 should not be cut back in the A'ery hot Aveather. He prefers the 

 early spring or XoA'ember. This applies to nursery stock as Avell 

 as older trees. He considers spring or fall as the most desirable 

 for pruning. 



After a bud has taken hold and is ready to groAv, ^Ir. Taft does 

 not cut the top of the seedling back until cool Aveather. leaAdng it 

 to protect the young tree from the sun. 



In the course of a dialogue on the subject. T. T. AMiedon ad- 

 A-ised such protection for the trunks ^by encouraging doAvnward 

 growth of foliage as Avith oranges. He believes in Avaxing the cuts 

 regardless of hoAv smooth they are. D. Coolidge agreed as to 

 this method, and adAdsed systematic, regular pruning for the first 

 feAA' years, but differed Avith 'Mr. Taft as to the season for such 

 Avork, adA'ising cutting back in the Adgorous groAving season. Avhen 

 the high floAv of sap Avill heal the cut more thoroughly. 



E. S. Thacher's experience tends to faA'or pruning. His trees 

 are seA'en years old and all bushy, some of them threAv out high 

 limbs in the center and these Avere cut back, giving his trees a uni- 

 form appearance. His theory is that it does not hurt to cut them 

 any more than any other tree, and later he believes the production 

 Avill be increased by pruning. He advises Avaxing the cuts. 



Referring to the Harman variety and its inclination to grow in 

 large umbrella form. ^h. Coolidge stated that it could be shaped 

 up to form a perfect pyramid. Avhich resists heavy AA-inds and pro- 



