88 FRUIT GROWING FOR AMATEURS 



summer. These arise upon the branches of the previous year's 

 growth in such numbers that there is not room on the wall to 

 accommodate them, and a large proportion must be removed- 

 If the amateur realises that the young shoots allowed to remain 

 will form the branches of next year, to replace those now bear 

 ing fruit, he will have an excellent idea of the way in which 

 disbudding ought to be carried out. When the work is finished 

 there should remain not more than two, or possibly three, fresh 

 shoots on each of the older ones. All the others must be rubbed 



Part of Peach Tree, showing 



pruning of old shoots at e to 



make room for young growths 



off, though not on one occasion. Disbudding should be prac 

 tised at intervals of a week or ten days, and is generally com- 

 pleted in about three weeks or a month. Care must be taken 

 to leave a good shoot at the base of the old branch, or as near 

 the base as possible, otherwise the lower part of the tree will 

 get bare and unsightly. There must be another shoot 

 at the top of the branch, and if there seems to be room for 

 one more, another may be left towards the middle of the 

 branch. 



As the summer progresses the young shoots grow very rapidly 



