77 



several times, a frequent recurrence of " Suckers" should 

 make the Planter aware that there is something materially 

 wrong in his system of pruning and handling. 



A close examination under such circumstances will 

 probably result in showing that the trees have been too 

 heavily pruned and hacked about. Jagged spines will 

 frequently be found to mark where large branches have been 

 carelessly removed, and such will be found in the process of 

 rotting to have deeply cankered the parent branch and 

 rendered the " eye" barren, so that no new shoot can possibly 

 be expected again. Asa Doctor would say a " structural 

 deformity'' has been caused and it is clear that if heavy and 

 reckless pruning has been allowed for several years, the very 

 " foundation branches/' from which our bearing shoots are 

 to emanate, have been permanently injured beyond all hope 

 of recovery. It is to guard against such misfortune, and 

 endeavour to assist at reforming " healthy foundation wood" 

 that my remarks are aimed. 



In the first place therefore my system is simplicity 

 itself and consists as follows-, Do not attempt any elabo- 

 rate system which is difficult to inculcate, still more so to 

 maintain, and is otherwise unsuited, for all requirements in 

 shade culture. Depend more on handling and the careful 

 selection of new wood. - When the tree is young, endeavour 

 to give its primaries a fair start by adopting the system of 

 alternate distribution of secondaries, and then carefully 

 assist Nature by preventing absolute over-crowding. 

 Remove all backward, upward, and downward shoots and 

 wherever there is room, encourage tertiaries, which bear well 

 and can always be safely and annually removed. Avoid the 

 constant removal of large branches, and confine the opera- 

 tion of pruning more to a system of removing branches to 

 add to the vigor of others already formed and growing, 

 rather than to periodical mutilation, in the hope of getting 

 substitutes. Pruning if carried out under this plan, will 



