724 



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



Treatment of Rome Beauty Laterals. 



Now that the structural forniatiou of the Rome Beauty tree generally 

 and the individual treatment of its leaders have been dealt with, the 

 reader's attention is directed to the system of pruning advocated in 

 connexion with the various types of lateral and spur growths which 

 appear on this variety. 



It has been stated that two classes of leader wood are produced by 

 this variety, viz., fertile, and barren. This remark also applies in the 

 case of the laterals. 



1 



ffg-2. 



fig./. 



Fig. 5. Fig. 4. Fig.5. Fig. 6. 



Plate 49. — Treatment of Rome Beauty laterals. 



Plate 49, Fig. 1, is a strong barren yearling growth which, when it 

 appears on the two-year-old leader wood, and particularly if it is near 

 the base of the yearling extension, should be completely removed at 

 winter pruning. But when produced on the barren portion of a leader 

 it may be converted into a better class of fruit wood by duplication. To 

 do this, cut at (a) so that the buds (6) and (c) may produce weaker 

 growths like those on the barren leader between (&) and (c), Plate 47, 

 Fig. 2. Should the resultant laterals be again too long and unfruitful 



