COMMUNITY STUDIES 



267 



Peach trees may be pruned much more rapidly than apple 

 trees, both because they are smaller and because the wood is 

 softer, cutting more readily. In the Shenandoah-Cumberland 

 region it was found that trees from 7 to 14 years of age could 

 be given a light but thorough pruning involving thinning and 

 some heading back of main branches in 10% to 14.7 minutes 

 per tree. Younger trees require correspondingly less time. 



GENERAL INFORMATION 



Bemoval of Trees from the Orchard 



It is sometimes necessary to remove part of the trees in orchards that 

 have been planted too closely. Various methods of accomplishing this 

 are employed. 



A good method is to fasten a chain around the main branches several 

 feet above their point of union with the trunk. Hitch a team or tractor 

 to the chain about 20 to 25 feet from the tree. As the team pulls, 

 workmen •cut off roots on the opposite side with mattocks or axes. 

 Change the direction of the pull and cut off other roots until the tree is 

 loose and leans over so that the remaining roots may be severed. This 

 plan works very well in light soils but has been used successfully with 

 large trees on heavy soils. In the latter case, however, a charge of 

 dynamite under the center of the tree will help to loosen the roots. 

 Large roots remaining in the soil may be removed quickly by attaching 

 the chain to them. 



A block and tackle is sometimes employed, but is a slower method. 



Some growers cut off the top at the base of the main branches and 

 leave the trunks until they decay. This works quite well with peaches, 

 the wood of which decays quickly. 



In soils that are disked rather than plowed, the soil may be dug away 

 from the trunk and the trunk sawed off just below ground level. 



COMMUNITY STUDIES 



1. Visit several different orchards in the community at pruning time 

 and secure data on the following questions: 



(a) Age and kind of trees being pruned. 



(b) Severity of pruning. 



(c) Are the trees being headed back? If so, why? 



(d) Are the cuts being properly made? 



