164 



1916 ANNUAL REPORT 



spreading type such as Fuerte or Taft; but it is not too close to space 

 Lyon, Perfecto, Sharpless and upright types 20 or 22% feet apart. 



A stake with rounded edges and sufficiently strong and high to act 

 as an ade- 

 quate sup- 

 port for the 

 first two 

 years growth 

 should be 

 provided. 

 And a lean- 

 t o shade 

 made of a 

 piece of bur- 

 lap 4x4 feet, 

 tacked to 

 two five foot 

 stakes placed 

 to pr o t e c t 

 the young 



. , , tree from 10 



wind and 



Glendora, to 4 o'clock 

 d u r i ng the 



first summer, is highly desirable. (See Fig. 35 for illustration of similar 

 method. — Editor. ) 



Irrigation the first summer should average fortnightly, with extra 

 irrigations in hot spells. Much of course depends upon the nature of the 

 soil, and the specification mentioned is a general one, to be varied with 

 good judgment according to circumstances. 



Pruning 



Unquestionably the avocado tree should be kept low, with branches 

 touching the ground, thus affording necessary shade to the trunk and 

 keeping the ground cool. These lower branches should be kept secondary 

 in size. Frequently these lower branches will assume too great a growth 

 and importance, detracting from the symmetry and desirable frame 

 development of the tree. In such cases they should be trimmed back, 

 the purpose always being kept in mind to have a broad, low, stocky tree, 

 capable of withstanding wind and from which the fruit may be easily 

 picked. 



Certain upright growing types do not readily lend themselves to this 

 treatment, and with them some latitude must be allowed. 



Pruning for avocado fruit wood is to a great extent an unexplored 

 field, and only general principles can be applied. 



Figure 35.— Newly set avocado trees, protected from 

 sun injury by cloth covers. Judge Silent place, 

 Cal. (Photo by H. J. Webber) 



