THIRTY-THIRD BIENNIAL SESSION 
159 
The third year from two to three laterals properly distributed should be 
allowed to grow from each of the main frame work branches but these 
laterals should have at least one-half of their growth cut hack. 
It is safe to assume that the trees in their fourth year have reached an 
age where at least a moderate crop of fruit may be expected, and the head 
of the tree is now so well formed that the pruning to be followed in succeed- 
ing years is only to carry out the plan of continuing along the same lines as 
has been recommended for the trees. 
Failure to prune severely when the trees are young means that there will 
be a number of long spindling branches with practically all new growth at 
the tip ends. Should the trees bear a heavy crop the branches will bend 
down under their heavy load, become sunburnt, and even break off in some 
cases, thus sacrificing the tree to the profitable returns which would accrue 
to the grower if a systematic method of pruning had been followed from the 
beginning. 
Advantages of Systematic Pruning. 
The many advantages of this method of pruning are: 
1. It makes a low headed, stocky tree with a broad umbrageous head 
and well developed fruit spurs, and clothed with plenty of foliage, fully pro- 
tecting the fruit from too much exposure in arid climates, such as are ex- 
perienced in California. 
2. It enhances the carrying capacity of the tree, thus avoiding artifi- 
cial props when maturing a crop of fruit. 
3. It expedites the harvesting of the crop by rendering it more acces- 
sible to the pickers, thus economizing time and expense. 
4. It prolongs the life of the tree by conserving its vital force and 
rendering it less liable to damage in the breaking of limbs and taxing its 
strength by carrying its fruit close in. 
Even after following this system of pruning regularly every year, It is 
only a question of years when the tree will fail to develop fruiting wood to 
the extent it should, due to the lack of vitality in the branches, and when this 
occurs another proposition presents itself to the fruit grower, which re- 
quires just as much of a radical treatment in order to bring the tree back 
to its proper bearing capabilities as the method which was followed In the 
beginning when the tree was first set out. 
Very few growers have the courage to cut off main branches four to 
six inches in diameter, but this is really the only effective plan which will 
resurrect the tree and bring it back to its old vigor. The plants to cut off 
the main branches within six feet of the ground, leaving as nearly as possible 
a central shoot to protect the branches which have been cut off from the rays 
of the sun, and in addition to this to permit enough of the growth to remain so 
that until the branches which are cut off force out a new head, the un- 
pruned shoot will take care of the surplus sap ; and thus prevent any danger 
of sour sap. If this should develop the tree would die. 
If the branches which have been cut back send out a strong growth of 
new wood, the branch which was allowed to remain may be cut off at the 
same height as the others or may be removed entirely the following year. 
The immense amount of young wood starting from the cut off stumps should 
