PRUNING. 61 



year, and shoots should be cut back to lengths con- 

 taining- from three to six eyes. 



The amateur will understand how difficult it is to 

 fix exactly the number of eyes that should be left, 

 owing to the fact that nearly every variety differs in its 

 length of wood between the eyes, some varieties being 

 so long-jointed that eyes are hard to find, in which 

 case always cut above a joint ; never mind the look of 

 the tree. I have proved that trees with very long- 

 jointed wood have a tendency to die back quicker than 

 those with short joints. After the first year the shape 

 of the tree will be the great consideration, and for this 

 reason extra care must be exercised in the cutting to 

 an inside or an outside eye in hard or liberal pruning. 

 In the case of inside or outside eyes not being re- 

 quired, it is wisest to rub these out rather than after- 

 wards to remove a well-formed shoot. 



This so-called disbudding is not practised enough, 

 and for this reason few standards have really well- 

 shaped heads. 

 DWARFS. 



I have not so much advice to give in re- 

 spect to the pruning of dwarf trees as one 

 might imagine, for a great deal that I have 

 already said applies. General hints, however, 

 are more necessary in their case, and to begin 

 with I will once more impress my readers with the 

 great necessity of labelling all trees. " A Ros,e by 

 any other name would smell as sweet," but its name 

 in the family is more important than its family name 

 when pruning is in operation. Also, even if the name 

 does not interest you, yet your friends will want to 

 know it. In the Winter and early Spring you may 

 desire to move a tree to another part of the garden, 

 and if you know nothing about it you are lost as to its 

 best position, and also its pruning. Granted you 

 know every name and have little experience as to 

 pruning, you need not hesitate to start, for even if 

 you do err on the side of leniency, you will not spoil 

 your trees. When, then, you have planted and the 

 Spring comes round, accept the general rule — weakly 



