10 Nov., 1916.] 



Apple f'liUurt- in Victoiid. 



663 



Plate 34 is a Rome Beauty tree of modern design. Its stem is 15 

 inches high, and the branch system, with its open centre, represents in 

 shape an inverted cone, as compared with the full-centred and conical 

 formation of the ancient type. And when further compared with 

 Plate 33 it will be observed that, in consequence of the hard pruning to 

 which the Rome Beauty was subjected during the first four years of its 

 growth, a circle of leaders was produced, each representing a longi- 

 tudinal section in the tree's geometrical make-up. This treatment has 

 practically revolutionized the apple tree formation of olden times. 



Plate 34. — A Borne Beauty of Modern Design. 



The reason for selecting the Rome Beauty to show tiie comparison is 

 because it is one of those most difTuult to sha])e into the modern type. 



The habit of this variety, like the Statesman and others, is to send 

 up strong vertical le-iders, jjarticularly when the land is rich or manure 

 a])plicd generouslv. Many of its leaders produce weak or dormant Inids. 

 and they are conseciuently barren of fruit-producing laterals. This 

 ne<-essitates careful selection and judicious pruning of the leaders in 

 order to secure a sufTicient number of short, fruitful laterals. The 

 laterals also require scientifu" pruning treatment, l)ut this matter will 



