323 



trees of either Plums or other fruits, to be removed when necessary. 

 These temporary trees assist in utilizing the land, and act as nurses to the 

 others. Planting may be done at any time between the fall of the leaf 

 till the spring growth commences, but the most favourable period is from 

 the beginning of July to the first week in August, according to the 

 locality. Strong straight-stemmed young trees should be selected, and 

 these ought to have well-formed heads, and roots in proportion. 



TRAINING AND PEUNING. 



Trees should invariably be trained with low heads, as tall specimens 

 suffer more from strong winds than short ones. Low-headed trees also 

 afford a better shade for the stems, and give greater facilities for gathering 

 the fruit and pruning. Young trees will require more attention in 

 pruning than old ones, as their branches must be thinned out and 



BRANCHES or THE PLUM. 



(^1) Two year old wood. 

 (B) One year old wood. (C 

 and Z)) Fruit spurs. 



Fruit Spur upon older wood. 



shortened back according to their special 

 requirements in order to promote a strong 

 growth of wcj>d and get the heads into the 

 desired form as quickly as possible. Mature 

 trees will require but little pruning as a 

 rule, all that is necessary being the removal 

 of misplaced and diseased wood or rank 

 shoots, and thinning out the branches when 

 the heads get too crowded. Too frequently 

 Plum trees are pruned more heavily than is 

 necessary, and more harm than good is done. 

 The necessity for winter pruning may in a 

 large measure be avoided by disbudding or 

 removing surplus shoots early in the summer 

 before growth has made much headway. 

 This practice is specially to be commended 

 in the case of young trees. Very frequently, 

 owing to local circumstances such as a very 

 rich soil, the too free use of manure, or the 



