Summer Pruning Dioarf Fruit Trees. 297 



length, they are shortened to about one inch, or from that to 

 one and a half inch. The portion left forms the basis of one 

 or more fruit buds, bearing fruit in the following season, or a 

 spur on which blossom buds are formed for bearing in the 

 second season. 



" The advantages consequent on properly managing fruit 

 trees, with regard to summer pinching, are so important that 

 attention to the subject cannot be too strongly urged. By 

 the operation, the shoots necessary to be retained, have the 

 great advantage of more light and air than would be the 

 case if crowded by a multiplicity of laterals, retained till the 

 time of winter pruning, when they must obviously be cut off, 

 either so close as to leave no bud to push, or shortened to 

 within a few eyes of their bases. In the former case, the 

 branch is left naked ; in the latter, when the tree is suffi- 

 ciently vigorous, the eyes left generally push other shoots, to 

 be again cut back in winter; and thus crops of shoots are 

 annually produced, instead of fruit, for many years, or until 

 the tree approaches the state of old age. 



" The plan which M. Cappe pursues, succeeds admirably 

 in the climate of Paris. The fruit on the pyramid pear trees 

 under his management is stated, on competent authority, to 

 have been last year exceedingly abundant, large and fine. 

 This season the trees are healthy and vigorous, and well fur- 

 nished with blossom buds. It may be said that the generally 

 dry, clear air of Paris, is very different from the cloudy and 

 moist climate of many parts of Britain, — the one being 

 favorable for the formation of fruit buds, whilst the other 

 favors the growth of wood and leaves, and therefore, circum- 

 stances being different, the same practice may not be equally 

 proper for both. There are, moreover, instances of circum- 

 stances differing so widely as to require opposite methods of 

 culture. But this does not hold good as regards summer 

 pinching. In England, the drawback is a dull atmosphere ; 

 the shoots and foliage want more air and light. Summer 

 pinching affords this, inasmuch as it prevents the crowding 

 and shading of wood and leaves necessary to be retained, 

 by that which is superfluous ; and therefore it must be con- 

 sidered of still greater utility in dull climates than in bright, 

 more necessary in England than in France. 



