714 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Dec, 1916. 



which the tree is growing and by the strength of the growths it is 

 producing. Strong growths may be cut longer than the weaker ones. 

 As a guide in this matter, however, from a minimum of 6 inches to a 

 maximum of 12 inches may be observed as a standard, when a tree over 

 seven years old is growing on soil of average fertility. When the tree 

 is under seven years old and growing under similar conditions the 

 standard may be raised somewhat when dealing with the leaders after 

 the discontinuance of their duplication and until the tree has reached 

 the age of seven years. When this open formation of the tree has been 

 obtained and the fruit encouraged to develop along the leaders as 

 depicted, through the method of pruning advocated, sap elaboration in 

 the leaves becomes perfected through the free admission of sunlight to 

 the foliage. By the same agency the fruit attains its perfect colour, 

 and its uniformity of size is regulated by the careful selection of the 

 light laterals and spurs, of equal strength, on Avhich it is grown. 



Some trees, such as Jonathan, -I'Esopus Spitzenburg, London Pippin, 

 and others which yield the dessert varieties, while young and particularly 

 when cultivated on rich soil, frequently produce fruit of too large a 

 size to carry its full commercial value. When establishing the branch 

 systems of such varieties under the favorable conditions mentioned, the 

 pruner should provide for a greater number of leaders and more fruit- 

 bearing wood than would be required under no/mal conditions in order 

 to regulate the fruit to a marketable size. The surplus leader and 

 lateral growths may be removed when the tree has assumed its fruit- 

 bearing habit and settled down to "normal conditions. 



These precautions are not necessary when dealing with the varieties 

 which yield large culinary fruit, as this is mostly retailed in larger 

 parcels than the dessert varieties and its keeping qualities are not so 

 easily impaired. 



Then there are the varieties like Yates and Pomme de JSTeige, which, 

 no matter how favorable the conditions surrounding their growth, rarely 

 yield fruit above the dessert standard, but often when grown on rich 

 land, produce rank and over-vigorous leader and lateral growths which 

 it is often difficult to control. When establishing these also, extra 

 leaders and laterals may be retained until such time as the tree becomes 

 fruitful and amenable to control by pruning in the ordinary way, when 

 they may be removed. 



The thirteen-year-old Reinette de Canada tree shown in Plate 40 

 may be taken as an illustration of this method of preventing the too 

 vigorous growth of the leaders by their excessive duplication while 

 young. As the fruit shows a tendency to become small, and when the 

 wood groAvths assume normal dimensions the surplus leaders and laterals 

 may be gradually removed according to requirements to be judged by 

 the pruner. 



Shoktening Back the Leaders. 



It will be understood that the leaders of a tree when about twelve 

 years old will have become too long to satisfactoidly support their fruit. 

 In fact the leaders frequently break down under the weight of the fruit 

 during years of heavy crops and particularly if the fruit is encouraged 



