40 



We have seen nothing in this country to lead us to advise 

 planters to be non-pruners. In fact, the result of our observa- 

 tions lead us to believe that this is pre-eminently a country in 

 which the correct, or otherwise, pruning of an orchard will be 

 an important factor in its ultimate success or failure. The " Low 

 head" system of pruning is the one, we are convinced, is best 

 for here. 



Firstly : Being a country of hot suns, this style best shelters 

 the stem and keeps the soil abound the tree cool. 



Secondly : Take the undoubted advantages derived from 

 picking the majority of the fruit from near the ground. 



Thirdly. The minimum of danger which such trees are 

 exposed from the force of the strong and gusty winds, which are 

 the orchardist's bete noir in many parts of this country. 



Fourthly. The firm and solid foundation one is able to give a 

 tree grown on these lines are important points in a climate like 

 ours, where trees carry, very often, maximum crops. 



The well-spread foundation thus gained is most important in 

 other ways ; it enables the laterals thrown out from the main 

 limbs, of which latter, by-the-bye, take care there are not too 

 many, plenty of room, to be annually or where necessary shortened 

 in, and in turn throw out other side shoots, which will bear fruit 

 over a number of years ; and being carried near the main limbs, 

 will be practically safe from the winds, and the flow of sap there, 

 i.e., in the main limbs, being strong, the fruit will be of good size 

 and quality. 



I have treated at some length this important matter of founda- 

 tion-laying in another paragraph. 



The conditions under which orcharding is being practised in 

 South Africa are very diverse, and the details of successful 

 pruning will undoubtedly differ ; some districts will require 

 more bearing wood being retained, others less ; these details 

 must be left to the judgment of the individual primer ; this is 

 no rule-of -thumb job, but brains, guiding a knife, or pair of 

 pruning shears, as the case may be. The object in view always 

 being a continuous succession of crops of good quality fruit, 

 covering the greatest possible nnmber of -years from a given 

 tree. 



All dead and diseased wood, not forgetting dead fruit spurs, 

 should invariably be removed at each season's pruning. 



Also all cuts, except the cuts on the thin laterals and spurs, 

 should be painted over ; any materials will do, waste or good 

 paint, tar grafting, wax, shellac, and in fact any material that 

 will exclude atmospheric influences, 



In implements try th^ best, ., most expensive, shears you can 

 get. Swiss makes and shapes are the best, and they should be 

 supplied with a spare blade ; a pair of such shears will last years. 



A siitf r/iifi non, as far as thorough work is concerned, is the 

 California Pruning Saw. A frame saw, which should also be 

 bought with a spare blade. These are stocked by the leading 

 ironmongers in Cape Town and elsewhere. 



