, 88 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



those on the left. This is because a number of pushing buds were detached on one side 

 and not on the other. The left side of the tree represents mismanagement a confusion 

 of irregular growths, which must be barren because crowded. The right displays 

 cultural attention, the certain precursor of fruitfulness. A close examination of the 

 reference matter and figures will enable the subject to be comprehended. 



Clean, sturdy, thoroughly-solidified growth in young trees is essential to their after 

 health and capability for fruit production. It is a mistake to crowd the lower parts with 

 side-growths or spurs with a view to early produce, because their removal at a later 

 period causes a number of wounds to be made ; these impede the flow of sap, and 

 produce more or less knotted stems at the very point where their sap channels should 

 be straight and clear. Trees with clean stems always produce the most perfect fruits. 

 It is equally important that the young tree be induced to grow freely, and to effect this 

 is one of the objects of disbudding. Instead of leaving all the young shoots issuing from 

 a cut-back branch, as portrayed, Z71, page 187, and getting nearly a dozen of varied 

 lengths and strengths as there figured, the young shoots not required for the framework 

 of the tree should be rubbed off early, leaving the three growths shown in dotted 

 outline. The condition of the growths when disbudding should begin is seen in the 

 side-branches, U 3. Those to be removed are shown detached in the branches U 2, 

 and W 6, and the effect is seen in the stronger, firmer, and more fruitful wood 

 represented. With the object of making the important subject of disbudding still 

 more clear, further examples from practice are introduced. 



When a branch inclines obliquely upwards and is left its full length, the buds at its 

 base do not break ; but by bending it, as indicated by the curved dotted outline in Yj 

 Fig. 50, when the buds commence swelling, the basal buds start into growth. The 

 branch may be depressed more if needed, and eventually raised, when the whole of the 

 buds start equally from the base to the extremity. Eemoving half of these growths 

 when they have fairly started, makes in most cases all the difference between a full crop 

 of fruit either the following or third season, and none. This is apparent in the blossom 

 spurs forming on the disbudded branch, A. 



A branch not breaking at the base represents permanent loss, and if the side-growths, 

 Z 2, had been removed, and every alternate growth from that part downwards, the base 

 buds would have started, and a branch have been produced, well furnished with spurs, 

 wide enough apart to cause them to form perfect blossom buds and strong extension 

 growth, as depicted in the branch (A) above cited. 



