26 THE BOOK OF THE APPLE 



leave this at the winter pruning, for one could gather the 

 fruit and afterwards prune behind where the fruit had 

 been. 



Most of the fruit of the apple tree is of course 

 borne upon short, stunted branches, known as spurs, 

 and summer pruning encourages the formation of fruit 

 buds upon these. When once a spur is formed it will 

 continue to produce fruit buds for years in succession. 

 There are some varieties however, in fact many 

 varieties, that will fruit exceedingly well upon the 

 young wood, and instances of this can often be seen 

 upon the ends of the leading branches. Fruit buds 

 will form along the whole length of the latter, and 

 will in time develop into fruiting spurs, but they are 

 usually too close together and should be thinned out. 

 The spurs no less than the branches require to be 

 regulated, but this can best be done at the winter 

 pruning. 



Summer pruning, then, may be thus summed up : It 

 consists in shortening to within six buds of their bases, 

 about the middle of July, all lateral shoots that are 

 growing freely, with the object of encouraging the 

 development of fruit buds on the lower portion of the 

 shoot. If it happens that a fruit bud develop towards 

 the apex of the shoot, leave it to bear fruit, and prune 

 behind it during the next winter. 



Winter Pruning. If summer pruning is properly prac- 

 tised, the work at the winter pruning is considerably 

 reduced. The shoots that were pinched back during 

 summer to six buds, must now be cut back to within 

 four buds of the base of the shoot. We do not find it 

 advisable to prune harder than this, or the probability is 

 that wood buds will be produced. January is a good 

 month in which to prune apple trees, so that if possible 

 the work should then be done. In many large gardens, 

 where there is so much pruning of fruit trees to be ac- 



