Pruning Mature Trees. 
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Fig. 8.—A seven-year-old peach tree getting too high. Notice how the fruiting wood 
is being smothered out below. About two more years of such pruning and it will be like 
the tree shown in Fig. 11. Severe pruning in the top will yet save such a tree without cutting 
down the yield in any one season. This tree has been spoiled largely because the pruner 
did not have the room to properly spread it. 
Fig. 9.—Type of tree similar to that of Fig. 8, showing about how such a tree should 
be pruned. Could have been cut back a little more severely in the top to force more new 
wood below. 
Fig. 10.—Eight year old peach tree that has been well pruned and trained. Notice how 
well the fruiting wood is distributed throughout the head. See how nearly it conforms to 
a right angle. An ideal shaped tree and the heavy pruning in the top indicates that the pruner 
does not intend to let it grow away from him. This tree is good for seven more years at least. 
Fig. 11.—A tree of the same age as that shown in Fig. 10. The pruner has tried to increase 
the bearing surface by increasing the height of the tree, and notice the result. A tall, leggy 
tree with no fruiting wood below. This tree would be a good subject for a system of pruning 
similar to that shown in Fig. 12. 
