244 



PRUNING 



silicate), injure the cambium to some extent. As a result, 

 delay painting the wounds for a year until the cambium is 

 protected by bark, unless wood-decaying organisms are serious. 

 White lead is a satisfactory covering, but many others are 

 being used successfully. 



The Pear 



The pear is so similar in fruiting habit to the apple that 

 many of the recommendations given in reference to pruning 

 the apple can be adopted. 



(a) The Pear Is Trained Either by the Pyramidal^ Open, 

 Modified'Leader, or Natural Form. In many sections the 

 pyramidal or center-leader form of tree is used. The open- 

 headed or vase form seems to have preference in the large 

 pear-growing regions of the West, since it is easier to control 

 pear blight in trees pruned by this method. Compared to 

 the pyramidal form the trees pruned to the open-headed form 

 have fewer main branches, are not quite so thick as a result, 

 and consequently blight can be seen and controlled more 

 easil}^ It is also easier to keep blight from becoming estab- 

 lished in the main limbs and trunk when the center leader 

 is removed. In the more open trees any blighted spurs on 

 the lower limbs can be seen and removed immediately, and 

 thus infection at these places can be checked. 



The modified-leader type of tree combines many of the 

 advantages of the other two systems and may well be used 

 in many sections. Trees allowed to assume a natural form, 

 no definite effort being made to force them into any one 

 system, often are very satisfactory. 



(t>) Young, Non-Bearing Trees Shoidd Be Pruned Lightly. 

 T^Tiat has been said relative to pruning young apple trees 

 applies, for the most part, to the pruning of young pear trees. 



If the main branches make too long a growth (more than 

 30 to 36 inches) during the season, they should be shortened 

 back, since pear branches are inclined to break off (generally 

 above the crotch) more than apples. Some growers prune the 



