152 



Joitriud of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 March, 1917. 



in size, rather attractive in appearance, ripens late, and kee,ps well. 

 but it lacks good quality — the most essential characteristic of the apple 

 However, the object here is not to deal with the Rymer so much 

 in relation to its commercial value as in regard to the principles of 

 pruning involved in its case, on account of the rare fruiting habit of 

 this variety. When given a reasonable amount of care and attention 

 the trees usually make good growth, and are easily shaped into the 

 modern type. But a careful study of the habit of growth, and method 

 of fruiting more particularly, is essential in order that the prnner may 





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Plate 73. — Eymer, sixteen years old. 



be enabled to obtain the best early results from the Rymer. While 

 the trees are under nine years of age, and making strong growth, the 

 fruit is mostly produced on the terminal buds of the yearling laterals, 

 which, on the whole, are rather short, as compared with those pro- 

 duced by most of the other varieties. In .pruning trees up to the age 

 mentioned it is obvious that the points of the laterals should not be 

 removed except for the purpose of securing a succession of such growths 

 to maintain the shape of the tree, and facilitate the setting up of a 



