'^^56.'] Pruning in Summer. 243 



After the buds develop themselves into young shoots, the course of the 

 vegetative process in the trees should be closely watched. The outline 

 and ideal of a perfect and pyramidal dwarf-tree, with all its details, 

 should stand out in a lively image before the imagination of the gardener ; 

 and, during the summer growth, it should be his aim to so direct the 

 ample store of new production as to bring it, in the nearest degree 

 possible, to a perfect tree, and to profit, by every means in his pwer 

 presented by this redundant growth, to secure fruit for the ensuing year. 

 With these considerations before his mind, his first efl^orts should be 

 directed to secure for the tree a competent top-leader. If the shoot of 

 the uppermost eye promises to become such, it may be preserved for that 

 oflice. But, if inferior to some of its lower neighbors on the branch, 

 some of the latter should be chosen for the leader; in which case the 

 extremity of all other surrounding shoots should be carefully pruned off 

 when about six inches long. By this means the leader will gain in 

 strength, while the other shoots, which are to become the lateral branches, 

 are, for a time, arrested in their growth, and thus their due proportion 

 is preserved. It is, however, proper to remark that it may become 

 important to stop the exuberance of growth in this leading shoot itself, 

 when it seems to draw too largely on the supplies of its fellows ; this is 

 done, whenever it becomes necessary, by pruning ofi" a few inches of the 

 extremity. The leaders of the lateral branches should also be examined 

 and treated in like manner in order to secure a suitable leader, well 

 proportioned to the minor shoots of the same branch. Particular atten- 

 tion should be bestowed upon the small shoots which are to become the 

 fruit-bearing branches. It frequently happens that their terminal shoot 

 takes on too strong a growth, thereby losing its capacity for bearing 

 fruit, and becoming but a leaf-branch. By resorting to this method of 

 checking the strong-growing shoots, the gardener and orchardist is 

 enabled to exercise a complete control over the development of his tree ; 

 though it may be necessary to repeat the operation over and over again.' 

 Under this treatment the fruit branches are greatly favored°and 

 strengthened, and even new ones are developed which, without this 

 attention on the part of the gardener, would have become but 

 useless leaf-branches. During these operations in summer every hap- 

 hazzard water-shoot (gourmand !) frequently sprouting on trees, should 

 be removed ; in general, only a proportioned number of shoots is to be 

 preserved ; all those which-would tend to create excess should be taken 

 off altogether. In this manner the sap and strength of the tree will be 

 employed in the production of useful and valuable parts, securing 

 abundant crops, and well proportioned healthy trees. 



