Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-13

The finest peach that any man ever
saw was the one away at the end OF
the topmost limb where it could not
be reached without breaking the tree
course, like the fish that got away.
it isn't really any finer than some
other peach, but it looks that way
and causes great deal of unhappi-
ness.
Then, there is another very sad
sight. A limb breaks under the
weight OF a great many fine peaches,
and the fruit you had expected to
put to such excellent use shrivels
and goes to waste.
And the saddest thought of ali is
that both disasters could have been
every peach grower realizes the i'm
portance of pruning in it's relation
to his bank account or to his table
supply of fruit. if he is growing only
for home use. However, large or
.chard owners usually follow more or
even though they may have no clean
cut conception Of just what their
plan involves The owner of a few
trees frequently goes at it more hap
hazardly than does one growing
fruit on commercial scale.
pruning. according to. the United
States department of agriculture
pomologists, are: To modify the
vigor of the tree; to. keep the tree
shapely and within bounds; to make
the tree more stocky; to open the
tree top to admit air and sunshine;
to reduce the struggle for existence
in the tree top; to remove dead or
interfering branches; to renew the
vigor of the trees; to aid in stimu-
lating sufficient new wood growth
and the development of fruit buds.
m t,,;I 80 P,.,5i =.
to induce uniformity in the ripening
Of the fruit. to make thorough
spraying possible; to facilitate the
harvesting of the fruit.
Prune in Early Spring
In general, the proper time to
prune peach trees is during the dor
mant period, preferably in late win
where bleeding from wounds is like
ly to occur. In such regions it
should probably be done in early
winter. But conditions and the OBJ
ject of the pruning must be con-
sidered in each case.
If the pruning operations are very
extensive it may be necessary to
prune throughout the winter when
ever the V'Sa-r,''i is suitable for men
to work esss ~, orchard. If the fruit
buds are endangered during the Win
ter by ADVERSE temperatures it may
be advisable to delay pruning as
much as economic conditions per-
nit until settled spring weather ar
rives. This is especially advisable if
heavy heading back of the previous
seasons growth is desirable for the
sake of the tree. since if large pro-
portion of the fruit buds are killed
it may be best for the prospective
crop not to cut back heavily.
During the dormant period, be-
tween the first and second year, the
first years growth, provided it has
been thrifty and vigorous, should
be headed back rather heavily.
Perhaps one-half or two-thirds of
the growth should be removed. How
ever this needs to be considered
with view to: The symmetry of
the tree, it's strength and vigor, and
it's future development. In order to
provide for an open, well-formed
head in later years, it may be nee
essary to thin out some of the
smaller, secondary branches. In do
ing this, however. provision. must
be made for a uniform distribution
of limbs so spaced that the open
top desired will be insured, yet leav-