GENERAL PRACT1CK PRUNING. 



encouraged as near the stem as possible to provide a succession of spurs as well as 

 attract sap to the fruit. Some fruit buds are cut off, but plenty are left for a full crop, 

 and the fruit will be much more valuable than if all were left on. 



The crowded, undesirable condition of the spurs is shown on the left side of the 

 branch, a state of promised fer- 

 tility which may either result 

 in abortion, or a profusion of 

 small, worthless fruit. The spurs 

 should be thinned, that is, cut 

 back, as indicated by the bars. 

 This in most cases causes new 

 growths to issue nearer the 

 branch, and these in due time 

 being transformed into fruit 

 spurs, enable the pruner to keep 

 up a supply as provided for on 

 the right - hand side of the 

 spurred branch, and indicated 

 by the small crosses (x). These 

 six cut-back growths represent 

 wood buds, all the others blos- 

 som buds, and the latter are per- 

 ceptibly larger on the right than 

 the left of the figure. 



Thinning and shorten ing 

 spurs, also cutting out useless 

 spray, is best done just before 

 the leaves fall ill the autumn, 

 though mild days in winter 

 and spring are usually chosen 

 for work of this character. The buds are then more discernible, but they are suffi- 

 ciently pronounced in autumn, and the removal of superfluous parts then diverts the 

 sap into the remainder, and they arc invigorated accordingly. The distance the fruit 

 buds should be from each other varies with the different fruits. On apple and pear 



22 



Fig. 42. SPUR PRUNING. (Described in text. ) 



