PRUNING 



shoot of ''E." '^E" in Fig. 29 should be cut to the 

 fourth bud on the outside, and this is shown in Fig. 

 30. ''F" is undoubtedly the strongest cane and on 

 its whole length the young shoots have started vigor- 

 ous spring growth. Cut ''F" to five eyes as in Fig. 

 30. Had this plant (Fig. 29) been pruned in the early 

 spring the dormant buds on ''A" and the lower buds 

 on "B" and ''C" would have been forced into 

 growth, but as the stems were left long, the sap went 

 to the top of these weaker-growing canes. If cane 

 "F" had been somewhat larger, and ''B, " "C " 

 and ''E" had been as small as or smaller canes than 

 ''A," the plant would have been too one-sided and 

 it v/ould have been necessary to have cut 'T" back, 

 certainly to the third bud, which is on the outside, 

 possibly to its lower bud to equalize the growth; 

 but in this instance the three remaining canes in 

 the center, ^'B," ''C," and ''E," are nearly as large 

 as 'T," and the cane '^A" by being cut back to its 

 second eye should throw out strong growths, as the 

 two buds remaining will secure all of the sap of this 

 stalk. 



These instructions are given for general work to 

 secure the greatest number of fine blooms. Natu- 

 rally, if a person wishes exhibition blooms, and is 

 willing to be satisfied with only a few of these, after 

 growth has started and the shoots have broken, he 



169 



