Show BIG SIG OBJECT IN PRUNING TREES TREESA t A Assists Development of Strong Framework lor for Support of Wood and Fruit I SHOOT GROWTH IS BIG BIB HELP Choice Given to S Secure Best Possible Distribution From Viewpoint of Training Training Prune Prune Young Tree Very Severely One of the main objects In pruning young oung trees Is to assist In the development devel devel- of a strong framework for the later support of fruiting wood and fruit says V V. R. R It Gardner of the University University University Uni Uni- of Missouri College of Agriculture ture In Circular 90 00 It Is desirable that this framework be developed as quickly as Is compatible with a proper proper prop prop- er maturing or ripening of the wood woodIn h In the fall The main scaffold limbs and their branches which go to form r the framework of the tree are dey deWI- deWI l xV 1 v f f Year Three Peach Tree Pruned for Full Crop sped pell from shoots That is In the young oun apple tree the shoots of one season sea sea- son become the limbs of the next sea sea- son Consequently any practice which promotes a strong vigorous shoot growth In the young tree Is a direct aid ald In building Its framework It is isa n a well established well fact that comparatively comparatively t heavy pruning Is a great stimulant stimulant stimulant lant to shoot growth a stimulant In Inthe Inthe inthe the sense of causing larger and stronger strong- strong i-er i er though fewer shoots In other 3 Words while heavy pruning does not cause the tree to produce more total ti shoot growth it reduces the number I of f new shoots and those which do grow are correspondingly longer and stockier In the very young trees we ih expect to retain only a few shoots enough to form the main scaffold limbs and their brandies branches and we want these to be as strong trong and vigorous as pos pos- o Able Hence we desire only a few to form perhaps twice as many as we WIsh to retain thus giving us a choice In order to secure their best possible from the viewpoint of ot raining training TAR Prune Severely In the case of the tree a little older I e three or four y years ars we expect to retain a larger number and also a larger larg larg- er r l' proportion of the shoots because lien en we are developing the branches b nd ad sub-branches sub of ot the scaffold limbs g and we still sUIl want enough shoots produced pro- pro so that some choice may be beade benade ade nade between them With these gen gen- sa Nw eral considerations in view It becomes become evident that the very young tree should be pruned severely but as It becomes older and larger pruning decreases in severity It is Impracticable to attempt attempt attempt at at- tempt to reduce this general principle to a definite rule role to be followed with all trees Good judgment should be exercised In Its Interpretation However However How How- ever it may be a kind of ot a guide to some to state that the amount of prun pram prunIng pruning ing fug to be given after the first years year's growth In the orchard should In a average average aver aver- vel age cases remove remove perhaps three fourths of ot the shoot growth of ot the preceding year th the second pruning should remove perhaps two thirds of ot the shoot growth of ot the second season season sea sea- son the third pruning should remove a half halt to two two thIrds thirds of the shoot growth of at the third season and the fourth pruning probably should remove remove re reo re- re move something less than a half halt of the shoot growth of ot the fourth season Pruning the fifth and sixth seasons should be somewhat less severe Heading Back and Thinning When it Is suggested that the first pruning should remove approximately three-fourths three of ot the shoot growth made by the tree during Its first year in the orchard this does not mean that three three fourths fourths of ot all the shoots should be cut out of ot the tree Probably Probably Probably ably a third to a half should be removed re re-o removed moved and the remainder cut back to toa toa toa a half or a third or In some cases a quarter of ot their length In other I words the pruning should consist partly part part- ly In a thinning out and partly In a heading back The same statements I hold for the pruning of ot trees a little older except that as the trees become 1 older relatively more of the pruning should consist in thinning out and correspondingly correspondingly correspondingly cor cor- I less In heading back |