47 



THE APRICOT. 



The Apricot is probably the tree of all others that suffers 

 most from a neglect of annual pruning. It carries its fruit on 

 the spurs thrown out from the wood of more than one year's 

 growth, and also sometimes on the wood of the last season's 

 growth. But being a rampant grower, it is inadvisable to take 

 into consideration the possibility of obtaining a few fruits on the 

 long tops of new wood, as to keep the tree well in hand, these 

 must be sacrificed, and one can rest assured that the act of 

 disposing of them tends to force out spurs from the older and 

 stronger wood, which brings one's fruit in nearer the main supply 

 of sap, which circulates more freely through t'liese stronger 

 branches, thus increasing size and quality of product, and also 

 placing the fruit in a position where the wind will do it little 

 damage. 



In taking over the tree at the second winter pruning, one 

 finds a strong and heavy growth of the new wood, frequently a 

 yard in length, and occasionally six feet. The greater portion 

 of this must be cut away. One will generally find that from the 

 ends of the wood left at the former year's cutting two, and some- 

 times even three and four, strong shoots have been thrown 

 out. Should there be but two, spread well apart and also spread 

 out in such a way as not to interfere with any shoot on the next 

 branch which it is advisable to retain ; both can be kept, shorten- 

 ing into a iquarter or a third of their length, the object being 

 always to retain these limbs as nearly equi-distant as possible ; 

 if three or four shoots have been thrown out, one or two must be 

 cut clean away, it always being kept in mind that the wood now 

 being left will be the future main limbs and there must not be 

 too many of them ; and their general directions must be main- 

 tained, always avoiding the formation of angles and forks in the 

 branches as much as possible. Actual fruit-bearing spurs will 

 seldom be found iri the Apricot at the second pruning, but there 

 may be a number of small laterals or spurs which will eventually 

 bear fruit. These must not be cut away, but shurtened-in to 

 tivo inches, or three inches, and if there is a profusion, must be 

 thinned out. The third and following annual cuttings must be 

 of similar character, the cutting away of the majority of the 

 long tops, and a heavy shortening-in of those retained. It is 

 not desirable to have too many limbs, as when the fruit spurs 

 are thrown out, and all those over 2 inches to 3 inches in length 

 are shortened-in, these spurs will not only carry fruit, but throw 

 out other spurs from their terminal buds, and if these are intelli- 

 gently treated they will continue healthy and vigorous and bear 

 fruit for many successive years, and they must be allowed room. 

 The points to be remembered are to shorten-in the fruit spurs 



