1884.] COB FILBEBTS. 3G 



where they are to remain, to suffer them to grow without restraint 

 for three or four years, and then to cut them down to within a few 

 inches of the ground. They will push five or six strong shoots, which, 

 the second year after cutting down, are to be shortened one-third. 

 Then place a small hoop within the branches, and fasten the shoots 

 to it at equal distances. In the tliird year a shoot will spring from 

 each bud : these must be suffered to grow till the following autumn, 

 or spring of the fourth year, when they are to be cut off nearly close 

 to the original stem, and the leading shoots of the last year shortened 

 two-thirds. In the fifth year several small shoots will arise from the 

 bases of the side branches which were cut off the preceding year: 

 from these the fruit is to be expected, and the future object of the 

 pruner must be directed to produce an annual supply of these by 

 cutting out all that have borne fruit. Tlie leading shoot is every year 

 to be shortened two-thirds or more, and tlie whole height of the 

 branches must not be suffered to exceed six feet. Every shoot that 

 is left to produce fruit should also be topped, which prevents the tree 

 from being exhausted in making wood at the end of the branch. 

 Observe, in pruning early in spring, to have a due supply of male 

 blossoms, and to eradicate all suckers." 



' The above-mentioned plan is altogether different to that adopted 

 by the late Mr. Webb in these far-famed Calcot Gardens, for he 

 preferred leaving them to their natural growth. This is an excellent plan 

 where they are planted in rows on each side of a walk, to form a shady 

 sheltered walk in summer. Grown thus they will bear plentifully in an 

 agreeable manner. But where it is intended to make a plantation of 

 several acres, or even of one acre, the young shoots should be shortened 

 to at least half their length, and cutting away or shortening the laterals 

 every year. The management of these is of great consequence. 

 Where the laterals are short, say under six inches, they need not be 

 cut back, the great object being to have the branches thickly beset 

 with fruitful spurs. It is desirable to have a clear stem of at least 

 from twelve to eighteen inches above the ground before the head is 

 formed, and this must be kept free from shoots as well as suckers 

 from the root. The centre of every tree should be kept open and free 

 of branches so as to admit all the sunshine and air possible. 



' Mr. Loudon says, the plants should be trimmed to a single stem, 

 from a foot or two in height, and then permitted to branch into a 

 symmetrical head, rather open in the middle, and not greater in height 

 than a man can conveniently reach from the ground to perform the 

 necessary operations of pruning and gathering. 



' The fruit is produced from the preceding year's wood, and in 

 unpruned trees is always most abundant at the extremities of the 

 branches, where the leaves of the preceding year have had abundance 



