- -   AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM  - -


(CLF7000)  Advanced Core Cluster:  PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE

  (CLF7600)   Unit Title:  PRUNING

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  (CLF7602)   Topic:  DEFINITION OF          Time      Taught in Year(s) 
                      PRUNING TERMS         1 hour          3 and 4       
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         Topic Objectives:  Upon completion of this lesson the student will 
         be able to:

         Learning Outcome #:

           (K-9)  -  Define the following pruning terms:  basin crotch, head,
                     fruiting wood, leader, prune, scaffold, spur, sucker, 
                     thin, train, and watersprout.

         Special Materials and Equipment: Unlabeled drawings of a tree.

         References: University of California,.  PRUNING DECIDUOUS FRUIT 
                       TREES.  Circular 444. 

                     University of California,.  Pruning Landscape Trees.
                       AXT-288 or Leaflet 2574.

         Evaluation: Quiz by instructor

TOPIC PRESENTATION:  DEFINITION OF PRUNING TERMS

A.  The discussion of pruning, like any new subject requires the knowledge 
    of certain vocabulary.  As we discuss and demonstrate the pruning 
    systems, learn these terms, so you also can discuss this topic 
    intelligently.


B.  These terms will be listed alphabetically.

    1.  A basin crotch (or water pocket) is the depression formed by the 
        growth of three or more scaffolds at the same level on the trunk.

    2.  The head is the part of the trunk from which the scaffold branches 
        arise.

    3.  Fruiting wood are spurs or young branches containing flower buds.

    4.  A leader is the developing trunk (central scaffold) which is larger 
        and more vigorous than the lateral branches.  It is the predominant 
        (main scaffold) of the tree from which lateral branches arise.

    5.  To prune means to remove the parts of a plant.  Implication is that 
        pruning is done after a plant has reached its desired shape.  (See 
        training.)

    6.  A scaffold is a permanent branch arising from the trunk; becoming part 
        of the major framework of the tree.

    7.  A spur is a short shoot usually growing less than 4 inches in a 
        season.  Most spurs are formed from lateral buds.

    8.  A sucker is a vigorous shoot arising from below the graft union or the 
        ground from the trunk or roots.

    9.  To thin (or thin out) is the removal of the lateral branches at their 
        point of origin or reducing the length of a branch by cutting to a 
        lateral large enough to assume dominance.

   10.  Heading back is cutting back to a stub, a lateral bud, or a lateral 
        branch.

   11.  Training directs the growth of a young tree to secure the 
        desired shape and arrangement of framework branches.  Think of 
        training as securing the desired shape and pruning as maintaining it.


   12.  A water sprout is a vigorous shoot arising above the ground or graft 
        union from the trunk or branches that are older than one year.


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NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR

This topic can be taught by drawing these tree parts on a chalkboard or 
having prepared drawings for the students.  Suggest that the drawings are 
not labeled, but the names of the parts are written on the drawings as the 
instructor locates and defines them.

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6/12/90 sg

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