'lo June, 191 i-] Orchard and Garden Notes. 401 



Fruit buds may always be distinguished by their well-nourished, plump 

 .appearance, in contradistinction to leaf or wood-buds, which are flattened, 

 -and which often lie flat along the wood. Fruit spurs are the prolongations 

 of fruit buds, often branching into various buds with age. Laterals are the 

 weak, twiggy growths which, in their second and subsequent years, 

 .generally produce fruit buds along their course. Strong growing, as well 

 as upright, laterals must always be suppressed, cutting them back to a few 

 basal buds, or removing them altogether. Vertical growths of any descrip- 

 tion should always be discouraged in fruit trees ; as such upright growths 

 induce a free rush of sap, the sap thus strengthening them, and depriving 

 the lower and other parts of the tree of their legitimate nourishment. 

 Slow sap movement always results in fruit production, and this can be 

 attained by {a) sloping the whole framework of leaders out at a fair angle, 

 and {b) suppressing or changing the direction of growth of any strong up- 

 right growths, whether laterals or leaders. 



In the management of the lateral system, it is generally advised not to 

 interfere with these unless they become too strong, when they may be 

 treated as previously advised. Should they become too long, thus unduly 

 interfering with each other, they may be shortenend back, but always to 

 a sub-lateral growth, which often occurs at right angles to the parent, or 

 to a fruit bud lower down. To cut to a leaf bud merely induces a con- 

 'tinuance of growth, with a consequent reduction of fruiting strength. 



These remarks refer mainly to apple, pear, and plum trees ; and, in the 

 -case of the first two varieties of fruit, it is generally advisable not to inter- 

 fere with the laterals until they have formed their fruit spurs. A too 

 thick or numerous lateral system may always be thinned out, but it must be 

 remembered that once a lateral is removed entirely, it is very difficult to 

 replace it, and impossible in some varieties of fruits. For peaches and 

 apricots, it is always advisable to shorten back, and to continue to shorten 

 ■back annually all fruiting wood. Where an apricot or peach tree pro- 

 duces laterals carrying no fruit spurs, these may be cut right off, as basal 

 ■feuds are generally present to produce fresh lateral growth. Only in the 

 ca.se of early fruiting varieties may these growths be retained, as they 

 will in all probability produce fruit spurs late in the season. 



Having carried out these instructions the tree should be well framed, 

 and well furnished in legitimate places with a good amount of suitable 

 fruitful wood. If, after the fourth or fifth year, the top growths are 

 regulated in the manner described, the strong surplus top-growths being all 

 suppressed except the leader ; and the tree prevented from becoming a 

 " broom,'' i.e., all growth on the top, then a suitable type of tree for local 

 'Conditions will have been produced, a tree which should produce its fruit 

 for the lifetime of the grower and probably longer. It must be underst(X)d 

 "that to pos.sess a tree on which strong upper growths are permitted, the 

 fruit-bearing abilities of the tree are greatly restricted, the fruit is being 

 produced in entirely the wrong place, and the tree becomes most unmanage- 

 able for all pruning and other operations. The type of tree most suitable 

 to local conditions is one low crowned, with a short trunk, carrying a fair 

 number of equally spaced limbs or leaders, and having it regular and 

 shapely withal ; having no crowding of branches, the toji light, and ali 

 leader.s well inclining outwards at a fair angle — as near to 45 degrees as 

 possible. If this Ix? done, then the tree will regularly produce its fruit- 

 ing spurs and wood, the crop will be placed in tht l()W«'r regions of the 

 tree, where it can l)e convenientiv managed ; and it will produce tht- 

 ■greatest (|uantitv of superior liuit ,it a ininiinum c(.)sl of labour to the 

 .grower. 



