260 



PRUNING 



the European varieties are more often trained with the center 

 leader. However, the modified-leader system is satisfactory 

 for all plums and should be used more widely. 



The Japanese varieties should be pruned a little more 

 heavily than the others in order to obtain trees of good shape 

 and to cause a good growth of shoots, upon which new spurs 



and considerable fruit are 

 borne the following year. 

 This heavier cutting is es- 

 pecially important with the 

 Burbank, which is a low- 

 spreading grower. Thinning 

 out of slender branches 

 seems especially desirable 

 with this variety. Other 

 varieties which make a 

 narrow, upright growth, 

 such as Wickson, should be 

 headed to outward-growing 

 branches in order to secure 

 a more spreading tree. 



Most of the European 

 varieties develop into trees 

 of good shape even if very 

 little pruning is done. It is 

 well to keep the centers of 

 the trees thinned sufficiently 

 to admit sunlight and thus 

 maintain a healthy spur 

 system on the main limbs. 

 (b) Bearing Trees Require Heavier Pruning, The Japa- 

 nese plums bear such heavy crops while young that they soon 

 need a heavier type of pruning in order to stimulate new 

 shoot growth, keep the spurs in a healthy condition, and pro- 

 duce fruit of good size. Owing to the characteristic growth 

 of the trees, it is usually necessary to do some heading 



(Cornell E(cp, Station) 

 Fig. 94. Bearing European or Do- 

 mestica plum tree after pruning. Note 

 that thinning out and light heading 

 back have been practiced. 



