400 Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [lo June, 191 i.. 



Therefore heavy pruning is the rule for young trees ; as a rule, far 

 more is removed than remains. A tree is received from the nursery with 

 its roots more or less damaged, and these are cut back considerably so as-. 

 to allow the tree to produce a new, young, and strong vigorous root 

 system. The top is also cut heavily, that is, far more is removed than is 

 left. 



Three or four main arms are selected as the basis of the leader forma- 

 tion. These are cut back, leaving only three or four strong buds on each;, 

 the cut is always made so that the top bud shall be on the outside of the 

 leader, and never on the inner portion of the framework. Two, or perhap.? 

 three, of these buds will break away into strong growth in the spring-time ; 

 the stronger of these will be selected next winter, and instead of the young 

 tree having three main arms, it will have from five to seven. These are- 

 again cut " hard " back for similar strong growth in the -subsequent spring ; 

 and they are similarly treated in the following winter. Thus, at the end' 

 of the third winter pruning, the tree .should have from nine to twelve 

 (and probably more in good .soils and favourable situations) good, strong- 

 leaders, all evenly balanced and spaced for the admission of sunlight and 

 air, all inclining or sloping in an outward direction, and all breaking away' 

 well down and low, as near the crown of the tree as possible. The latter 

 is a most essential point in the framing of a tree. It may, of course, be 

 necessary in future years, for renewal purposes, or perhaps to fill in space"? 

 in wide spreading trees, to allow the development of a sub-leader halF 

 wav up the branch, but thi.^ must not be allowed in the early architecture ct 

 the tree. 



By cutting " long," that is, by leaving the main shoots too long, in 

 the earlier building of the tree, the framework will be very frail, and 

 when the stress of bearing is reached, the tree is broken down ; under these- 

 circumstances, it is not easily possible to replace the lost leaders. Further, 

 a "two-story" tree always has a bad appearance, and regularity in 

 orchard work is just as necessary as it is in house building. 



After the third or fourth year, the aim of the pruner should be- 

 towards production of fruit-bearing wood. During these years, the tree 

 has not been unmindful of this, and quite a number of weak lateral growths 

 will have been produced. These may always be retained, unless thev 

 become too long and spindly, when their length may be somewhat reduced. 

 The.se laterals will produce all along their length a number of fruit buds, 

 and they are thus valuable wood. A strong growing lateral mav always 

 be shortened back, or cut out altogether. 



Now that the time for fruit-bearing has come, the rule referring to 

 light or weak pruning comes into force. The tops of the leaders should be 

 cut lightly back every year, and always to an outside bud. As a sub- 

 sequent result, the leader frequently breaks away into two or three growths 

 in the following spring. Only one of these, the uppermost one generally, 

 must be retained ; the others may be removed, unless one is needed for- 

 spacing purposes. The.se growths may advantageously be removed in early 

 summer. Should the leaders be growing away to excessive height, the- 

 tree thus becoming very tall and unwieldy, the topmost growth, which 

 will very frequently incline almost to the vertical, may be cut out. Utilize 

 one of the other outward growths to continue the leadership, and tip this 

 lightly in the winter. Thus, by lightly cutting the tops of the leaders, the- 

 sap is more evenly distributed through the tree, and the result is the forma- 

 tion of fruit buds, fruit spurs, and lateral growths. 



