PLUMS IN" RELATION TO PBUNTNG 29 
larly and heavily headed back in winter, numerous twigs, although few long 
shoots, grow from terminals of spurs. If the tree is kept open by thinning 
and occasionally headed back, vigorous shoots sometimes grow from the ter- 
minals of spurs and branches as well as from near points of pruning; 
but most new growth will be that of small shoots and twigs growing from spurs 
in any part of the tree. The shoots which grow from terminals of spurs, like 
those induced to grow by the cutting back or removal of small branches, are 
usually short but are stocky, prolific, and produce numerous spurs. 
Spurs develop at almost all nodes of 1-year wood except on any slender 
twigs which grow from spurs on trees which have been severely headed back. 
They are very prolific and persistent, 20-year-old ones well set with fruit having 
been found. They branch freely, and as the internodes of the wood on which 
they grow are often short there is an abundance of fruiting wood (pi. 29, B and 
D). If trees are severely headed back each winter many spurs grow to twigs 
and but few spurs remain along the older wood (pi. 29, C). 
Fruit is borne almost entirely on spurs, except on heavily pruned trees 
where spurs have grown to twigs. On these trees fruit is often found at leaf- 
less nodes on the 1-year-old twigs. The crop is usually light at 1-year-old 
nodes where spurs are forming, but spurs 1 year old and older bear well and 
also make a good leaf growth. The thick stand of much-branched and pro- 
lific spurs causes the fruiting branches to bend badly when fruiting, and 
thorough thinning of fruit and often propping of branches is necessary. 
Trees of the Jefferson variety are very prolific, but inclined to make little 
wood growth after they have reached full bearing. Therefore care should be 
taken to maintain vegetative vigor by regular pruning and other cultural 
treatments. In pruning, cutting back should be confined to the shortening 
or removal of small branches, as wounds heal slowly ; if large branches are 
removed decay often enters. The danger from wood decay makes it necessary 
to give special attention to the training of the young tree, so that the 
removal of large branches in later years will be unnecessary. 
Tree moderately vigorous, upright spreading, and produces and retains 
spurs and fruiting twigs throughout the entire tree. The new wood growth 
is usually from the ends of the branches, and but little growth appears on 
twigs and spurs except where stimulated by pruning or where other conditions 
have changed and become more favorable to wood growth. 
Spurs form freely on all twigs and branches, and where conditions are 
favorable they remain as spurs for many years. The influence of pruning 
is less marked on spurs of this sort than on most other varieties. They are, 
however, somewhat susceptible to injury from dense shade caused by the 
compact tops of heavily headed-back trees. As with other varieties, a heavy 
wood growth follows heading back in pruning; but the vegetative vigor in 
trees of this variety is centered largely near the points of pruning, with the 
result that a greater portion of the new growth appears near the point of 
pruning than is found with other varieties (pi. 30, A). Trees severely headed 
back form dense new tops which shade the interior of the tree, while there 
is but little increase in growth or vigor of spurs or twigs lower in the tree. 
The fruit is borne throughout the tree on spurs of all ages and at nodes 
where spurs are forming on 1-year-old twigs and branches. The twigs and 
smaller 1-year-old branches bear heavily, and as with other varieties only 
a little fruit sets on large 1-year-old branches. Fruit is seldom found at 
leafless nodes except near the base of 1-year-old wood, and here the leafless 
segment is comparatively short. The Peach resembles the California Blue 
in retaining spurs in all parts of the tree, replacing any spurs which were 
broken off with new ones and bearing fruit on spurs of all ages. It also 
resembles it in fruit characteristics. 
In training the young tree a goodly number of framework branches should 
be developed, for the reason that the fruit is borne mostly on twigs and spurs 
which are retained along the entire length of the old branches. Danger of 
their breaking or the need for props is thus decidedly less than with most 
varieties. In pruning, the tree should be kept open by the thinning of branches 
rather than by heading back, as heading back centers the vegetative vigor in 
the upper part of the tree, 
