PLA^'TING, PRUNING, AND TRAINING FRUIT-TREES. 



20^ 



Fig. 10. 



with tlie stem, just before the sap rises in the stem ; and if a desirable bud 

 remain dormant, it maybe forced into growth by making- 

 an incision just above it. Where a large vacancy occurs- 

 between the branches, then a side-graft, in the manner 

 illustrated at p. 128, should be inserted to fill up the 

 space. They should again be cut at a, and the fourth 

 year will present the appearance of fig. 10. It will 

 then most likely begin to throw out fruiting-spure : 

 these should be carefully encouraged, for on the num- 

 ber of spurs which a branch exhibits does it depend, 

 whether the tree is to bear a good show of fruit or not. 

 518. The tiers of branches, as they advance in height, 

 should be regulated so that every side is furnished 

 with an equal number of branches. In the autumn of 

 the year the tree will resemble fig. 11. The pruning 

 is now confined to 

 shortening the lead- 

 ing shoots and the 

 laterals where the 

 lines cross (fig. 11) the 

 branches. The spm-s 

 should be carefully 

 examined, and if any 

 of them get long and 

 branching, prune 

 them in, as described 

 and illustrated in 

 fig. 6. If any of them 

 promise to be unfruit- 

 ful, follow the method 

 described in figs. 7 

 and 8. 



519. The fifth year 

 - the tree, continuing 

 its progressive growth, 

 \ \ X \%Shrf ig i P^^sents the appear- 

 ance of fig. 12. It is 

 now a tree of consi- 

 derable size, and re- 

 quires, besides the re- 

 gular annual pruning 

 of the leading shoots 

 and spurs, that the 



_ lateral branches 



Fig. 11. should be cut in a line Fig. 12. 



