270 



Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



abilities, but cut the growth back below them. By so doing further 

 strong leaders are obtained to keep the tree vigorous. The lower buds 

 will break into lateral growth, thus furnishing the tree with more 

 fruiting wood. 



The Apple. 



Until a few years ago the apple was considered an easy tree to 

 prune, the main objects being to preserve shape, promote growth, and 

 establish fruit spurs throughout the tree; old methods are I'eing 



Fig. 9. 



superseded gradually, and each variety is being treated according to 

 its needs. As this class of tree takes longer to come into bearing 

 than stone fruits, the severe pruning may be continued until a good 

 shape has been obtained and a sure foundation built to carry regular 

 crops. About five to six years elapse before anything approaching 

 a crop is borne, then light pruning should be practised. Some 

 varieties, as Five Crown, Pippin, Ohenimuri, produce spurs freely 

 and are not difficult to prune, whilst others, like Jonathan. Rome 



