268 VILLA CtAEDENIXG part hi 



branches should be encouraged to extend, the strength of the 

 upward current of sap being diverted to the sides bj' the centre 

 being kept open. It is not difficult to keep a fan-shaped tree well 

 balanced if one goes the right way to work, when we master the 

 princiiile that the elevation of a shoot causes the sap to flow more 

 freely in that direction ; whilst depressing it checks the flow. Of 

 coiu-se it may not be possible in all cases to bring down the strong 

 and elevate the weak. Yet there are but few cases of disorgani- 

 sation from loss of balance that may not be brought imder that 

 influence and the inequality rectified. 



Wiring the Walls is, on the whole, I think, a good prac- 

 tice ; it saves time and material in the training of the trees, the 

 face of the wall remains intact, and one of the customary hiding- 

 places of insect-pests is absent, though of com-se insects can and do 

 lay their eggs about the tree itself, on the axils of the buds, and 

 in the rough bark as well as on the surface of the wall I believe 

 the insects select the tree because they prefer it as a winter 

 home for their dormant progeny. The wires should be placed 

 close to the wall, leaving space enough to get the ties behind, 

 but no more, which need not exceed the eighth of an inch. 

 Complaints have arisen as regards the use of galvanised wire 

 for this piu-pose, but, though I have used it in various ways, 

 I have never in my owm practice seen any injury arise from 

 its use. Still, there is no doubt the bark of the young growth of 

 Peach and other fruit trees has been injured by contact with it. 

 There is no means known to me by which any person can say, by 

 an examination of its surface, or the application of any known 

 test, that a certain sample of wire will damage young wood. And 

 yet one would think science ought to tell us which is injurious 

 and which not — assuming, of course, that the fault lies in the 

 wire, which is not yet ascertained. Wherever the bark of fruit 

 or other trees is damaged by contact with galvanised wire, the 

 wire shoidd be painted, and its injurious tendency will be at 

 once removed. 



SuMxMER Management of Apricots. — This will commence in 

 April with the disbudding. Many do not disbud Apricots. They 

 simply allow all the breast wood to grow till June, and prune 

 it back to three or four buds or leaves, which are left to form 

 ainvcs to bear fruit or not, according to circumstances, the follow- 

 ing year. These influential circumstances to which I have just 

 alluded may be summed up in two words — viz. matui-e wood ; 

 that, again, may be still further explained by the words air, water, 

 and sunshine. I want to make it as plain as I can that a tree 

 thinly trained and properly summer-pruned will have an abun- 



