26 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENsIoN Service [Cire 42

side branches. Neglect in this matter will result in an uneven distribution
 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