524 Agricultural Gazette of I^.S.W. [July 2, 1^20, 



Both types of laterals, however, are noticeable in such varieties as Rome 

 Beauty, where the lateral with poorly developed, almost blind eyes usually 

 predominates. Such yearling laterals will not spur along their length, but will 

 develop only one or two spurs near their extremity, while the remainder of 

 the lateral will remain bare. On the same tree will also be found the other 

 type of lateral, with well-defined plump eyes. This type can be given plenty 

 of length according to its strength, and will develop spurs at each eye. 

 The character can easily be detected, and without checking the speed in 

 pruning can be dealt with as suggested. 



As a rule, Rome Beauty throws a greater percentage of these laterals with 

 well-developed, plump eyes when growing inland, beyond the tablelands 

 (especiallv in granite soils of our southern wheat areas) than when growing 

 on the coast and tablelands — especially, in the latter case, in heavy or rich 

 deep soils. In fact, after the trees in some of the southern wheat districts 

 are 5 or 6 years old, they will throw the greater percentage of their laterals 

 with well-developed eyes. The secondary lateral (that is, the extension 

 the yearling lateral makes) is generally more prone to carry these well-defined 

 plump eyes than the primary (the one direct from the main limb.) This 

 gives a hint as to the treatment of the lateral with poorly developed, blind 

 eyes. The habit of throwing laterals with well-developed eyes is, however^ 

 apparentlyinherent in certain trees, as one comes across it in odd trees where 

 the neighbouring trees of the same variety, under identical conditions? 

 exhibit quite the other character. 



The varieties Jonathan and Rome Beaut}^ have been chosen fo illustrate 

 the point under discussion, but the principle applies to apples and pears 

 generally. Granny Smith is very variable, giving chiefly one type of wood 

 under some conditions and the other t5^pe under others. The Williams pear 

 is variable in a similar manner. 



The treatment of the yearling lateral with the poorly developed eye is more 

 complicated than that of the lateral with the well-developed, plump eye, and 

 the results are not so consistent. Laterals not over 3 inches long with a ter- 

 minal fruit eye (often called a fruiting shoot) can be left untouched; they 

 will crop, form a club (sometimes with a spur just behind the club) and often 

 make a couple of small extersions. The extensions can be removed next 

 season, and as a rule the shoot will not extend again, but will form spurs 

 either from the club or immediately behind it. The length of bare wood 

 between the spurs at the club and the junction with the main limb is really 

 an advantage, as it gives space for the fruit to hang. Exactly the same 

 thing will happen to the longer lateral if left, but the trouble is that there 

 will be too great a length of bare wood carrying no spurs. Such a yearling 

 lateral, tkerefore, should be cut hard back. It will then make one or more 

 shoots according to its strength and position on the tree, and often a spur 

 immediately behind the shoots. Sometimes this shoot (being a secondary 

 lateral) will be of the type with well-developed eye, and a length of it can be 



