10 Jan., 1917.] 



Apple Cvltiire in Victoria. 



25 



which, on account of their number, produce a greater amount of small 

 laterals, and of a more fruitful character. 



A Jonathan on poor soil grows less upright, and it needs hard prun- 

 ing during its youth to secure the number of leaders required under the 

 circumstances, and afterwards to keep them still and more upright than 

 they would otherwise be if left to their own resources. A tree on this 

 class of soil usually comes into bearing early in life, and this further 

 retards its growth. Heavy crops of fruit bend the leaders down, and 

 when it is picked, they are rarely able to regain their original positions, 

 except when kept stiff and strong by hard pruning. 



The Jonathan grown on soil of average fertility is, generally speak- 

 ing, more amenable to pruning treatment than those cultivated under 

 the extremes just explained. Its leaders are, as a rule, of mediuru 

 strength, and densely clothed with a suitable class of fruit laterals. 





Plate 53. — Same tree Pruned. 



When trees of this class are placed in the hands of a scientific pruner, 

 all other conditions being favorable, the proposition of securing the 

 highest results becomes a matter of simplicity itself. 



Plate 52 is a ten-year-old unpruned Jonathan tree, showing a plenti- 

 ful supply of light laterals. It is a consistent bearer, and growing on 

 fairly rich Silurian soil. Its leaders are radiating at a rather cpen angle 

 from the vertical, owing to their inability to regain their proper position 

 when relieved of their fruit. This could have been prevented to some ex- 

 tent had the leaders been pruned harder during the first four or five 

 years of the tree's growth. 



Plate 53 shows the same tree pruned under the approved method. 

 The bottom leader, on account of its rather low position, was removed 

 The strong upright laterals were pruned away, while the weaker pendu- 

 lous ones were retained. Where the lateral growths became rather long. 



