26 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENsIoN Service [Cire 42 
side branches. Neglect in this matter will result in an uneven dis- 
tribution of the crop and possibly a splitting of some of the main 
limbs. A good distribution of fruiting wood will lessen the need of 
props and bracing. The twigs on the secondary limbs are seldom 
shortened, except possibly to direct the growth. The longest branch of 
a crotch, where feasible, is left pointing toward the space that is to 
be filled. Branches near the end of the secondary growth are thinned 
to allow sufficient light into the center of the tree. When possible 
leave the twigs on the side of the secondary branches. Iorizontal 
Fig. 4—Seven-year-old Elberta peach tree before pruning. Note vigorous new 
wood growth which, however, is not excessive. Compare with figure 5 after pruning 
by thinning, (From California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 386.) 
growth is less likely to develop into rank shoots than the upright 
growth. Remove long interfering branches. The cutting of very large 
branches is likely to leave wounds which heel over slowly and this is to 
be avoided whenever possible. It is better to thin out regularly (figs. 4 
and 5) so that the wounds made will heal over in one year’s time. As 
a rough estimate, one man can prune about 20 full bearing trees of 
average size in a ten-hour day. 
Equipment for Pruning. —A list of some of the more important 
tools (fig. 6) for pruning include: (1) hand pruning shears with a