378 SOME SPECIFIC MODES OP TRAINING 



length of thirty to fifty centimeters. As a result, the 

 buds at the side will develop in the first year into small 

 shoots. As soon as these have formed four or five buds, 

 they are pinched back to two or three buds. If the 

 highest of these lengthening buds develops a strong shoot, 

 and if the side shoots are backward and irregularly placed, 

 the main shoot can be pinched again. The trees thus 

 treated during the first year have a stronger and more 

 compact form, and all the lower buds are better developed. 

 We gain time, therefore, by making the best of the first 

 year, particularly with peaches, and secure more rapidly 

 bearing trees. 



"THE ONE-YEAR-OLD TREE, generally smooth and un- 

 branched, will be at our disposal. If, however, too early 

 side shoots have been developed, they must be removed at 

 their base on the stem, in order net to secure a confused 

 tree. We now cut all such imbranched one-year-old trees 

 of all fruits to the length noted for peaches, that is, fifty 

 centimeters, and to a strong bud. With stone fruits we 

 now choose three to four buds pointing in different direc- 

 tions, beginning above fifteen centimeters from the ground, 

 and crescent -like cuts are made with a sharp knife into the 

 bark above each of these. If all the buds on these stems 

 develop, we retain but six or seven of those on top and 

 pinch off the lower ones, as our pyramids shall not branch 

 immediately above the soil, but shall first make a stem fif- 

 teen to twenty centimeters high, in order that the fruits 

 shall not be too near the soil and get dirty and be of lesser 

 value. The uppermost shoot is fastened perpendicularly to 

 the projecting stub (Fig. 246) The remaining side shoots 

 we try to have equally strong, and we secure this by pinch- 

 ing back the stronger. All shoots have their points pinched 

 off as soon as they are thirty centimeters long. From July 

 to August we remove the stub which projects beyond the 

 uppermost branch (Fig. 246) . On apples, pears, peaches, 

 apricots, plums, and cherries we have nothing to do other 



