APPLES TRAINING. 5 



M 



tlie usual practice to purchase and plant such young trees, but whether they remain in 

 the nursery or are moved, they must be headed or cut back to e. For this purpose a 

 knife with a keen edge must be properly used. It is used properly by placing it at the 

 back of the shoot and bringing it through with a slanting cut upwards, a little above 

 the bud to which the tree is pruned, as is shown by the full bar ; the sloping cut is then 

 away from the bud, and if any water lodge or any decay of bark take place it will be 

 on that side opposite to the bud ; whereas, by making the cut from the same side as 

 the bud, also upward, the water will fall to the bud, and any decay occurring will 

 be to its prejudice. 



B (page 2) shows the tree one year trained, or with seven shoots and a leader. The 

 maiden tree was shortened back to 15 inches. The leading shoot (/) having had due 

 support from a stake (g) will be perfectly upright and should be cut back to 18 inches 

 if vigorous, as shown (A), or if not more than that length, it may be cut back about one- 

 third, alike to strengthen its subsequent growth, and to induce side shoots to push freely. 

 All the side shoots (i) should be cut back, in the manner indicated by the full bar, 

 upwards. The tree is still in good condition for removal, and by lifting with a radius 

 of one foot from the stem, as indicated by the upright dotted lines, there is little loss of 

 roots. 



C (page 2) shows the tree three years from the bud or graft, 4 feet 6 inches high when 

 cut back to/, and well furnished to the base, or what the nurseryman delights to supply 

 his customer with, namely, a tree with a foundation, and not only that but with blossom 

 buds (k) on the two-year-old wood. It is in fact a bearing tree, the branches extending 

 beyond the dotted lines of the pyramid, only needing to be shortened back as shown by 

 the bars and the leader (/) to secure the requisite shoots in the ensuing season. The 

 growths where closer together than 9 inches in the interior of the tree should be cut 

 away to an inch or less from the point of origin as indicated by the bars. The lower 

 shoots are not shortened, as from their position they will not grow so vigorously as the 

 upper ; besides, the fruiting state being induced, they will have the vital forces con- 

 centrated thereon instead of expended in the production of wood. The tree is yet in 

 good order for removal, but the roots having extended considerably would be seriously 

 reduced by taking out a trench at the dotted lines, and a severe check thus given 

 to the aftergrowth ; but by going 6 inches further away all around (/) in lifting there 

 is not much loss of roots, or not more than corresponds to the branches removed in 

 pruning ; and with care in preventing the roots drying, and in planting, the tree will 



B 2 



