Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 July, 1908. 



Remove the heaviest laterals and those growing upright. Leave in 

 the light and more horizontal ones. As the sap circulates more slowly 

 ill these dependent lateral lines they will, du.ring the year, furnish well 

 with fruit spurs. The next year they bear, and the year after can be cut 

 back, if necessary, to a fruit spur for its development. 



The Rome Beauty lateral on bearing at its terminal, clubs, and throws 

 out simultaneously two shoots, one .stronger than the other. (See d, a, c, in 

 illustration.) If not cut, fruit will be borne at d, and no spur develop- 

 ment will occur between a and c. The strong shoot should be cut out 

 w^here marked. The piece a d cannot then receive all the sap moving along 

 the lateral, and spur formation takes place at, and back from a. The 

 shoot a d, after bearing, can be cut out, and thus further strengthen the- 

 buds in a c. 



9. PRUNING OF LATERAL.S. 



a. Position where sap is checked and frnit s])urs m'c formed. e. Position 

 where b should have been cut the jirevious year to laiild u]) fruit spurs. 



Bv allowing laterals to run a \ear or two and then working them back- 

 is the best method of dealing with this kind of fruiting wood. This is the 

 method adopted in the pruning of the various trees illustrated. The lighter 

 leaders have freedom for rapid sap circulation while those that were too 

 vigorous have been treated in the manner already explained. By this means 

 leaders of uniform size will be obtained. The laterals have been either 

 left or cut back as necessity demanded, and the trees well opened up to 

 permit of the free circulation of light, heat, and air to ripen the leaves. 



This is most important, as ripened leavies mean ripened fruit buds. 

 The function of the leaves is tO' elaborate the sap into wood-building tissue 

 and fruit-bud products. No fruit-bud can be built up without the aid of the 

 leaves. On the character of the leaves depends the character of the buds, 

 and, con.sequently, the character of the fruit which these buds bear. Small, 

 VA'eak, and sicklv leaves, consequent upon bad drainage, starvation, or other 

 cause, give weak and undeAeloped fruit buds. 



Leaves are far more active in sap elaboration in sunlight than in shade, 

 so that c\ery opportunity should be given to the leaves to perform their- 



