180 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
LATE WINTER OR EARLY SPRING GENERALLY THE 
TIME TO PRUNE PEACH TREES 
“When is the proper time to prune peach trees?" 
This is a question frequently asked of the United States 
Department of Agriculture’s specialists. In general, the 
answer is: “During the dormant period, preferably late 
winter or early spring, just before growth starts. This 
is true except in regions where bleeding from wounds is 
likely to occur, when it should probably be done in early 
winter.” The subject of pruning peach trees is more 
fully explained in a new Farmers’ Bulletin (No. 632) on 
Growing Peaches, which deals also with renewal of tops, 
thinning, interplanting crops, and other special practices. 
Sometimes the owner of a peach orchard will find it 
necessary to prune his trees throughout the winter when¬ 
ever the weather is suitable for men to work in the or¬ 
chard, particularly if the operations are very extensive. 
But if the fruit buds are endangered during the winter by 
adverse temperatures, it may be advisable to delay prun¬ 
ing as much as economic conditions permit until settled 
spring weather arrives. This is especially advisable if 
heavy heading in of the previous season’s growth is in¬ 
volved, since the proportion of live buds may determine 
the extent to which the cutting back should be carried. 
A limited amount of summer pruning can usually be 
done to advantage. The trees should be observed con¬ 
stantly throughout the season of active growth. When¬ 
ever a branch is seen which is so placed that it obviously 
will need to be removed at the annual pruning for the 
shaping up of the tree, it is well to take it off at once. In 
this way the annual pruning can be reduced to a minu- 
mum and the removal of large limbs will rarely be neces¬ 
sary. 
Then, too, it frequently happens that a single branch in 
the top of a tree will grow considerably faster than any 
of the others, thus making the tree unsymmetrical if its 
growth is not checked. A slight heading in as soon as 
such a tendency is apparent will usually keep the top well 
balanced. 
There is a wide difference of opinion regarding the 
practice of pruning trees, but the most successful fruit 
growers usually prune their trees. The principal ob¬ 
jects may be summed up briefly as follows: 
1. To modify the vigor of the tree. 
2. To keep the tree shapely and within bounds. 
3. To make the tree more stocky. 
4. To open the tree top to admit air and sunshine. 
5. To reduce the struggle for existence in the tree top. 
6. To remove dead or interfering branches. 
7. To aid in stimulating the development of fruit buds. 
8. To thin the fruit. 
9. To make thorough spraying possible. 
10. To facilitate the harvesting of the fruit. 
Obviously the pruning which a tree receives during the 
first- two or three years after it it planted has much to do 
with its future. Mistakes in forming the head or the 
results of neglect during the early years in the life of a 
tree are practically irreparable. On the other hand, if 
the tree is well formed and properly pruned during its 
first years, the foundation for a good tree is established; 
subsequent errors in pruning, if they occur, may admit 
of correction without permanent harm to the tree. 
The new bulletin explains why in certain regions 
where warm periods of considerable length occur during 
the winter, it is well to prolong the growth of trees until 
late every season. The rest period during which trees 
generally remain dormant is one which is fairly decided 
by Nature. Until that period is past, when once the 
trees have become dormant, they do not respond readily 
to temperat ures which later would cause them to resume 
a more or less active condition. If the growth of the 
tree is continued actively until the near approach of cold 
weather each season by means of late tillage, nitrogenous 
fertilizers, or in other ways, the period of rest for the tree 
will not be completed until a later time in the winter. 
Then if a spell of warm weather occurs in January, for 
instance, the tree which would ordinarily respond to it, 
will remain inactive until many of the dangers of frost 
have passed. 
A great many practical pointers on renewing the tops 
of peach trees, changing the top by budding and grafting, . 
thinning the fruit, controlling insect pests, and on grow¬ 
ing some annual crop in between the trees, are included 
in the new bulletin. This, along with another Farmers’ 
Bulletin (No. 631) covers the general subject of peach 
growing and treats of fundamental orchard operations. 
A third Farmers’ Bulletin (No. 633) will deal with the 
varieties and classification of peaches, any of these pub¬ 
lications may be obtained by interested farmers w T ho ap¬ 
ply to the Editor and Chief, Division of Publications, 
United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
D. C. 
“I have always had good returns from my advertising 
in the National Nurseryman.” 
C. G. Curtis, 
Callicoon, N. Y. 
“THE MONTHLY SUMMARY OF COMMERCE AND FINANCE” FOR FEB. 1915, GIVES THE FOLLOWING REPORT OF 
IMPORTS OF PLANTS, TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES. 
ARTICLES 
FEBRUARY- 
EIGHT MONTHS ENDING FEBRUARY- 
1914 
1915 
1913 
1914 
1915 
Quantity 
Value 
Quantity 
Value 
Quantity 
Value 
Quantity 
Value 
Quantity 
Value 
Plants, trees, shrubs and vines : 
Bulbs, bulbous roots, or conns, cul¬ 
tivated for their flowers or foliage 
1,027 
13,302 
3,926 
35,100 
22 
117,316 
285,646 
1,794,374 
2,425 
820, 096 
209,179 
2,030,420 
9,299 
867,894 
240,667 
2,287,575 
11,040 
883,277 
A11 other . 1 d ut 
90,126 
T otal. 
103,428 
152,438 
2,616,895 
2,907,613 
3,181,892 
