306 THE GARDENER. [July 



push. The end and aim of shortening-in the side-shoots is to cause 

 them to push enough of spurs, and also to secure that the branches be 

 strong enough to bear up loads of fruit without breaking, or even 

 unduly bending. Branches whose side- shoots are being continually- 

 pruned in, and whose leading shoots are allowed to run out unchecked, 

 grow very slender, are only partially covered with spurs, dangle about 

 in a useless way with every gust of wind, and break down with less 

 than half a load of fruit. Perhaps we should add that the branches 

 should be from 8 inches to 1 foot apart, and as regular as possible. If 

 necessary the branches should be regulated by being tied down, up, or 

 sideways, as the case may be. When the trees are 5 or 6 feet high, and 

 growing vigorously, but showing no signs of fruit-bearing, lifting and 

 ■careful root-pruning should be practised, and the trees carefully re- 

 planted among fresh soil. In all cases of root-pruning and replanting, 

 fresh soil — that is, soil which no tree-roots have impoverished — should 

 always be used for putting round the roots. Should a dry season follow 

 lifting, mulching should be given, or the trees may get too severe a 

 check. Even supposing that the trees grow with a moderate amount 

 of vigour — which is what ought to be aimed at always — the mulching 

 should still be given in order to prepare the trees for bearing a heavy 

 crop the year following ; for a dry summer, following upon root-prun- 

 ing the previous autumn, is sure to cause a great number of flower- 

 buds to form, to be followed, if no untoward event happen, with a 

 heavy crop of fruit, and this will absorb what would otherwise be ex- 

 pended on useless shoots. When once the trees are brought into a 

 bearing condition, less pinching and root-pruning will be necessary ; 

 but care should be taken that a fairly vigorous growth is maintained, 

 and for this reason winter top-dressings and manure-waterings should 

 be given whenever necessary, and over-cropping should be avoided. 

 Some varieties, when once they commence bearing, make little head- 

 way ; and although it is a desirable thing to turn over-vigorousness 

 into fruit, it is a most undesirable thing to cripple young trees. When 

 some kinds — Stirling Castle, for example — commence forming flower- 

 buds, flower-buds often terminate the leaders. These, if left alone, 

 will develop into clusters of Apples, but the result is that the tree 

 extends no further. When small trees show this tendency the points 

 of the shoots must be shortened back, however short they may be 

 already, to a wood-bud, the tree fed by some means, and only a few 

 fruits be left to mature until the tree is again in a vigorous state. 



A. H., H. 

 {To be continued.) 



