48 
APRICOT— PLUM 
The apricot trees should be planted as described on page 44, and the 
first three years they should be pruned as the peaoh is pruned, cutting 
back very heavily, so as to form strong limbs. The apricot is a fast- 
growing tree like the peach, and if it is not cut back, the top will be 
weak and will be broken down by the heavy loads of fruit and by ordi- 
nary winds. However, after the third year, or when it comes into bear- 
ing, the strength of the tree will be used up by the fruit and very little 
winter pruning will be necessary. 
Winter pruning stimulates an excessive growth, which is not desir- 
able after the tree comes into bearing, and the main pruning can be done 
in the summer-time, just after the crop is picked. Shorten back the new 
growth about one-half and take out ' any of the dead or interfering 
branches. As the apricot gets older, it will be necessary to remove some 
of the old wood from time to time. It is best to take out one or sometimes 
more of the old branches each j'ear, and in this way the top of the tree is 
kept within bounds. These large branches should be removed in the 
winter or early spring. 
The apricot produces its fruit on spurs like the plum and also the 
apple, and it also produces some fruit on the new growth like the peach, 
and this must be borne in mind in the pruning. If the tree has been pro- 
ducing too heavy a load of fruit, cutting back the new growth will have 
the effect of thinning the fruit. In spite of this, the tree will often set 
too heavy a load, in which case it must be thinned like the peach; but 
because apricots are smaller in size than peaches, they can be left closer 
together. 
Set trees 16 to 20 feet apart. Cultivation and spraying same as for 
the peach. 
Plum 
Plums are one of the easiest and most satisfactory fruits to grow. 
Most of the big commercial orchards are located in a very few states, but 
plums can be grown in every part of the country. There is more differ- 
ence between the varieties of plums than of other fruits, and each grower 
can have the kind that best suits his taste and requirements. 
Plums will grow on almost any soil. They will thrive on moist, heav- 
ier soil than will the other fruits, but succeed best on fertile, well-drained 
land. They will grow and produce good fruit in spite of neglect, and 
have often been called the "poor man's fruit," as they are found in 
alleys, fence corners, etc. However, they respond readily to care and at- 
tention, and should be cultivated and sprayed like other fruits. 
Plums should be planted as described on page 19. 
When the tree is planted the top should be pruned. Cut out the 
central leader about 18 to 24 inches above the ground. Cut back the 
branches to one or two good buds. After it has grown one season, remove 
all but four or five of the branches from the main head of the tree. Do not 
shorten these branches back. 
The next year and the succeeding years it will be necessary to cut 
out any dead branches or any that are not growing in the right direction 
or interfere with others, and a certain amount of pruning will be necessary 
to form the shape of the tree. Bearing plum trees require even less 
pruning than the apple. An exception are the sprawling, fast-growing 
kinds, which demand a severe heading-in every year. On fertile soil the 
Burbank has to be cut back half to three-fourths, and even then it some- 
times grows too large. 
Planting Distance. The different varieties of plums have such dif- 
ferent habits of growth that no definite distance can be given for plant- 
ing. In a mixed orchard 12 to 15 feet is a good distance, although Abun- 
dance may be set only 10 feet apart, while Burbank should be set 20 feet 
apart. Italian Prune, Lombard, etc., should be set 18 to 20 feet apart, 
although by cutting out some of the large branches as the tree grows 
