EEMAEKS ON PEUNING. 



and thumb occasionally on the young growing shoots. Between these two extreme 

 cases are many intermediate ones. Those having a strong upward tendency of 

 growth, as Urbaniste*, Duchess cf Anffouleme, Louise Bonne de Jersey^ Vicar of Wink- 

 field, &c., require a difterent treatment. Lateral growths near the base must be 

 encouraged by severely pinching the strong central shoots, never allowing them to 

 exceed eight or ten inches without bruising the points between the fingers. To pre- 

 serve the desired shape in these, it will occasionally be found necessary to remove a few 

 of the strongest top shoots altogether during summer, and shorten-in the side shoots 

 in the winter jDruniug. Another distinct and rather unmanageable habit may be 

 exemplified in the rampant growth of Beurre Diel and Triom2)he de Jodolgne. 

 These can only be kept within bounds by persevering in close summer pruning, leaving 

 as little as possible for winter removal — otherwise they will, for many years, produce 

 more fire-wood than fruit. 



There is still a large majority that can not properly be classed with either of the 

 foregoing. These may be termed rapid growers, but at the same time easily formed 

 into any desired shape, throwing out numerous side shoots when the tops are pinched. 

 I might notice the Fondante d'' Automne, Bonne de Zees, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, 

 many of the Doyennes, and a host of others that come under this head, according to 

 my observation of favorably situated trees in this locality. Climate, situation, soil, 

 all exert a manifest influence both in habit and vigor of growth, but the general 

 principles by vphich we are to be guided remain the same throughout. 



It may be supposed that the above remarks have reference merely to training, over- 

 looking its effects as influencing the production of fruit. Such, however, is not the 

 case ; in securing the one, we also ensure the other. One prevailing cause of sterility 

 in fruit trees is over-luxuriant grov/th, and summer pruning is the most effectual 

 check that can be applied, unless we resort to pruning the roots. In fact, it is only by 

 a proper attention to summer disbudding and pinching that the full benefit of good 

 cultivation can be obtained ; otherwise it would seem worse than useless to manure 

 and cultivate highly, since it would only encourage excessive wood growth ; but sum- 

 mer pruning enables us to derive the full benefit of such generous treatment by tlie 

 increased quality of superior fruit. By suppressing excess of growth on one portion 

 of the plant the sap is more equally distributed, and fruiting spurs are encouraged on 

 the older branches. The application of stimulants enables the plants to perfect a 

 heavy crop without a weakened reaction, and a yearly succession of good crops 

 becomes a matter of certainty. Summer pinching to promote fruitfidness may be 

 practiced on trees of weakly and delicate growth without materially imparing their 

 vigor. Elongation may be checked by bruising the extreme point of the shoot without 

 any reduction of foliage. Grape vines pruned on the spur system, are frequently 

 injured by the wholesale destruction of foliage after the fruit is formed, instead of 

 attending to it early and checking the shoot as soon as the fruit-stalk could be dis- 

 tinguished. No fruit tree is more benefitted by disbudding and summer pruning than 



*"Wo find the Urhanisie one of the most easily managed pyramids, being short jointed and quite branchy from tlie 

 start — Ed. 



VOL. XV. a2 





