PRUNING THE DIFFERENT TREE FRXHTS 235 



the trunk of the tree where most of the main framework 

 branches start is spoken of as the ^^head'' of the tree. It is 

 well to remember that the ^^head^' of a tree does not grow 

 higher from the ground as the tree gets older. In fact, as 

 the main limbs increase in diameter, the lower surfaces of the 

 limbs become somewhat closer to the ground — ^the center of 

 the branch remains at the original distance and the upper 

 part of the branch is somewhat farther away. Thus limbs 

 5 feet from the ground on old trees were at the same height, 

 if measured from the center of the branches, when the trees 

 were young. 



A few years ago trees were often headed high — 5 or 6 feet 

 from the ground. It was felt that the ground under such 

 trees could be cultivated more thoroughly and more easily. 

 In recent years, however, trees are being headed much lower — 

 20 to 36 inches. Such trees attain large size earlier than high- 

 headed trees which must be pruned heavily during the first 

 two or three years in order to produce a high head. All lower 

 limbs in high-headed trees have to be removed from the 

 central stem until a height of 5 or 6 feet is reached, and this 

 is a dwarfing process. It is evident also that lower-headed trees 

 can be pruned and sprayed, and the fruit thinned and picked, 

 much more easily and cheaply. Cultivating tools with ex- 

 tension sides now permit the orchardist to work the ground 

 satisfactorily and conveniently under the branches. Low- 

 headed trees are subjected to less whipping about and bending 

 by the winds. 



(c) The ^'Modified Leader^^ Form of Tree Is Recommended. 

 Apple trees are usually trained to some general form or shape, 

 such as open head or vase form, center leader, or modified 

 center leader. The form to which a tree is trained is not so 

 important, however, as the question of how much and when to 

 prune. Trees pruned properly by any of the methods will 

 grow and fruit well. 



In the open-head form, the central shoot or leader is re- 

 moved after one yearns growth, if one-year-old trees are used, 



