PRINCIPLES OF TRAINING 347 



that the fruit grows unequally, and a twisting movement 

 of the stalk follows, which injures the sap vessels. Be- 

 sides, the weight of the fruit alone, hanging on its stem, 

 stretches the sap vessels, and diminished their diameter. 

 When the fruits are supported, the sap penetrates more 

 freely, and their size is augmented accordingly.") 



Keep the fruits in their normal position during the en- 

 tire period of their development; that is, with the fruit- 

 stem lowermost. (" The sap acts with greater force when 

 it flows upwards; a vertical position of the stalk, there- 

 fore, causes the sap to ascend more easily and in greater 

 quantity, and the fruit will become larger.") 



Place the fruits under the shade of the leaves during 

 the entire period of their growth. ("If a young fruit be 

 exposed to the power of the sun, it will be smaller than 

 one shaded by the leaves, because its skin will be har- 

 dened, and not give way to the tendency of the sap to ex- 

 pand it.") 



Apply to the young fruits a solution of sulfate of iron. 

 ("We have already seen (page 334) that a solution of sul- 

 fate of iron applied to the leaves, stimulates their powers 

 of absorbing sap. The thought occurred to apply the 

 solution to the fruits, and the effect in increasing their 

 size was extraordinary. The solution should be in the 

 proportion of twenty -four grains to a pint of water. 

 Apply it only when the fruit is cool. Repeat the opera- 

 tion three times : when the fruits have obtained a fourth 

 part of their development ; when they are a little larger ; 

 and again when they are three parts grown.") 



Graft by approach a small shoot upon the peduncle or 

 fruit- spur, to which the fruit is attached when it has at- 

 tained a third part of its development. ("It has been 

 found that consequent on this operation the fruit becomes 

 larger, doubtless because the graft draws to the peduncle 

 a larger quantity of sap." See p. 132 of "The Nursery- 

 Book," Third Ed.) 



OF THF. 



UNIVERSITY 



