11 Dec, 1916. J 



Apple Culture in Victoria. 



713 



After the desired number of leaders were obtained, no further 

 duplication of same was permitted, and at the annual pruning the light 

 laterals were retained to clothe the leaders with a desirable class of 

 fruitful wood, while the stronger and less fruitful ones were completely 

 suppressed. 



The removal of the strong growths enables the fruit buds on the tAvo- 

 year-old wood of the leaders to extend into natural permanent fruit 

 spurs, and when the light laterals have set up their fruit buds during 

 the second vear of their groAvth, thev are shortened back to a few inches 



^1^ 



^4 





Plate 39. — Tree showing fruit on short growths along the leaders. 



in lengtli, and practically converted into strong artificial spurs to 

 ai'pplement the fruit bearing capacity of the natural ones. 



'I'lie object of this treatment is to iiUimatoly produce a tree which 

 will carry its fruit on short growths :il<)iig the lenders like that shown 

 in Plate :?!•. .\t the next winter ])ruiiiiig all the .strong young growths 

 appearing at the points of the leaders of this tree as a result of lust 

 year's cuts should be removed except one in each case which is retained 

 to continue the straight single lca<lfrs. The length at whicli these 

 leader growths should be cut may be dt^terniined by the class of soil on 



