300 Su7nmer Pnming Dwarf Frnit Trees. 



ample channels for the sap ; but in the case of summer shoots 

 being similarly shortened it must be observed that the wood 

 is comparatively immature, and the buds imperfectly formed, 

 so that, in fact, these buds cannot readily push, and therefore 

 the flow of sap must, in the mean time, exert its force on 

 older buds, either latent or otherwise ; and hence the danger 

 of causing incipient flower buds to push into shoots, together 

 with a vast number of small shoots from buds which had 

 better remained for the present in a quiescent state. The 

 following mode of proceeding may be, however, relied on as 

 perfectly safe with regard to pear, apple, plum, and cherry 

 trees on walls. 



"Commence forthwith to pinch off" a few inches from the 

 points of all shoots on the upper part of the wall, except, of 

 course, the leading shoots required to be preserved for the 

 extension of the branches. After a few days, let the points 

 of shoots on the lower portion of the tree be also pinched off"; 

 and, at the same time, a considerable portion of those on the 

 upper part should be still further shortened to within three 

 inches of their bases. It is important to commence reducing 

 the shoots at the upper part of the tree before the lower ; for 

 the latter have always a tendency to become comparatively 

 weak, and this tendency is greatly coimteracted hj proceed- 

 ing as above." — {Gard. Chron., 1848, p. 363.) 



In our warm and sunny climate, the trees make even a 

 more vigorous growth than in Paris, if we may judge from 

 the trees that came under observation ; and we have found, 

 after several years' practice, that summer pruning must be 

 kept up with us till the end of August, and, when the au- 

 tumn months are very warm, even to the end of September, 

 This especially is the case with trees on the pear stock, of such 

 kinds as cannot be grown freely upon the quince. Nearly 

 half of our trees are of this description, but we find no diffi- 

 culty in making them fruit, almost as early as if they were 

 upon the quince, by the method of summer pruning. In 

 connection with root pruning, the most free growing pears 

 may be brought into bearing in four or five years. 



Summer pruning, though of the greatest advantage to 

 dwarf trees, may yet be practised with the best success on 

 standards, bringing them into bearing much earlier and giv- 

 ing them a better head. 



