Pruning of Deciduous Fruit Trees, 4r)ii 



fruit has been borne, and where it is again likely to be produced; 

 laterals of the past season's growtli. thoug-h not showing spurs or even 

 pronounced buds are, wlien liglitly pruned, equally as capable of 

 producing fruit as older laterals. All weak, thin laterals must be 

 thin'Vvid out each j^ear, aud all reasonably stout growths which, in 

 the opinion of tlie grower, are capable of carrying fruit when pro- 

 duced, should be slightly shortened in if occupying a horizontal posi- 

 tion on the tree. In the spring the apparent dormant wood buds will 

 push into growth, and when about 1 inch to 3 inches in length a 

 blossom is produced on each short growth. As this takes place more 

 frequently near the tip of tlie lateral it will be readily seen that too 

 much hard cutting is liable to reduce the number of spurs thrown 

 out. All gross water shoots which arise on the main arms in the 

 centre of the tree should be cut clean away — thev serve no useful 

 purpose, except to replace an injured branch if suitably placed. 

 Suckers are also freely ])rodTiced. and these, too. slumld be rigorously 

 suppressed. 



The Pfi? SIMMON. 



This tree has, up to the present, been grown for ornamental 

 rather than commercial purposes. However, the interest displayed in 

 the fruit wherever exhibited indicates more extensive cultivation than 

 formerly. It is thought by some to be a tender tree. This is a 

 mistake; it thrives well in the Transvaal. The writer once had the 

 pleasure of observing a tree covered with snow, the fruits appearing 

 as fairy lig^hts on a Christmas tree, The habit of growth varies 

 according to the variety; some are inclined to become shrubby and 

 difficult to get into shapely trees, others, again, develop into stately 

 specimens naturally. It is difficult to say jnst at which height the 

 year-old tree should be encouraged to form its main arms, for, as 

 previously mentioned, the habit of growth varies a good deal ; 20 

 inches to 24 inches is considered a safe height for the stem. The 

 treatment given to other fruit trees to foim an open head can )h' 

 greatly modified with the persimmon. Allow tlie tree, after the main 

 arms have set, to develop along- natural lines. The pruner can check 

 any tendency towards branch weakness by thinning out or cutting 

 back at winter pruning. The pruning of jjersimmons must be 

 regularly performed each winter, not only to ensure the production of 

 fruit-bearing- wood, but to give the growths strength to carry the 

 fruit. The bearing wood of the persimmon is produced in much the 

 same way as the grape or quince, that is to say, the fruit is borne on 

 short growths resulting* from the development of buds on the past 

 season's wood. The same piece of wood never fruits twice. Any 

 shoot showing fruit scars sluuild be removed to base buds near to the 

 point of its origin. 



In this way old exhausted wood is annually removed and provision 

 made for new growth, density is minimized, and strength given to 

 the tree, the wood itself being very brittle. Thinning the fruit after 

 setting' is necessary to obtain a uniform size and reduce the tendency 

 to overbear. During pruning operations it is essential that secateurs 

 and knives be kept very sharp, so that little or no bruising takes 

 jdace. The sap of the persimmon is very acid, so much so that 

 ])niners are required to wash and strop the knife blades after several 



