298 Summer Priming Dwarf Fruit Trees. 



"Supposing the branches of a tree are properly thinned 

 and regulated at the winter pruning, and that, so far as they 

 extend, their number is quite sufficient for the space they 

 occupy, presuming, also, that the tree is in good health, a 

 number of laterals are sure to spring. They are, of course, 

 superfluous, and every one of them should be pinched as 

 already mentioned. If the last year's shoot has been short- 

 ened at the winter pruning, then, besides the terminal one on 

 the part left, one, two, or three, next to it, are almost sure to 

 push, and these M. Cappe commences to check by pinching 

 when about three inches in length ; but those nearer the base 

 of the shoot he allows to grow till they attain the length of 

 six or eight inches before he shortens them. The terminal 

 bud is of course allowed to go on for the prolongation of the 

 branch. It frequently happens in France, and the liability 

 will be still more in the climate of England, that, after a 

 shoot is pinched back, the newly formed buds on the part left 

 will push a secondary shoot in the same season. When this 

 is the case with those under the care of M. Cappe, he also 

 pinches these secondary shoots to an inch or an inch and a 

 half from where they originate. They rarely push again ; 

 but if they do, their growths are again reduced as before." 



To this we may add the following, also from the pen of 

 Mr. Thompson, which we find in the last number of the 

 Gardener'' s Chronicle : — 



"The operation of summer pruning is more especially- 

 necessary for trees that have undergone a process of pruning 

 and training than it is for those that have been left to nature. 

 Supposing two trees to be of equal vigor, both furnished with 

 an equal quantity of roots, and differing only in the one hav- 

 ing, in consequence of pruning, a much less extent of top; 

 the force of development being equal, it is evident that the 

 shoots will be much more crowded on the pruned than on the 

 unpruned tree. All other circumstances being the same, the 

 crowding will be proportionate to the disparity between the 

 expansion of the respective tops. Instances may be observed 

 of young shoots having only a scattered appearance over the 

 top of a tree formed of branches that have been allowed to 

 take their natural extension, whilst, on the other hand, a tree 

 that has been much cut in at the winter pruning will present 



