Belgian horticulturist Tom Deckers discusses the pruning strategy for a four-leader system. Many pear-growing systems put too much energy into production of shoots, he said. In this system, fruit develops close to the leaders. Geraldine Warner A four-leader system is generating early and high yields of ­Conference pears in the orchard of Jan van der Velpen and his brother in Bierbeek, Belgium. The system requires well-feathered nursery trees with at least six laterals so that the four best branches can be selected after planting as the future leaders, which are supported by individual ­bamboo poles. Their trees are on Quince […]