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PRUNING 



side branches and laterals to bear the crop. This may reduce 

 the crop somewhat for the one year, but will cause new 

 growth to be forced out lower down on the trees, especially 

 on the inside of the main limbs. Thus new limbs can gradually 

 be developed and the tree lowered without the loss of a crop. 

 After moderate pruning again for four or five years, the trees 

 may again be rebuilt gradually by this method. 



Fig. 90. The branches of lightly primed peach trees bend down or ''open 

 up" with their crop of fruit. SunHght reaches all parts of the tree, and 

 the fruit is usually well colored. Practically all the fruit can be picked 



from the ground. 



(g) When Peach Trees Are Pruned Lightly Each Year, 

 Other Orchard Operations Must Be Modified, Lightly pruned 

 trees of course become much wider, and require more space 

 in the orchard, than heavily pruned trees. As a result many 

 growers are now planting their trees 22 by 22 feet or 24 by 

 24 feet instead of the old distance of 18 by 18 feet. With 

 the advent of paradichlorobenzene for borers and the general 

 benefit secured from nitrogen applications, together with 

 pruning rejuvenation practices, many growers are now plant- 



