68 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE, 



good watering, and mulch the surface as far as the roots extend with 2 inches of littery 

 manure. It is not desirable to remove very old trees, but those of ten or twelve years' 

 growth, notwithstanding that they cover a high wall, may be raised and replanted with 

 perfect safety. 



Winter Treatment. Untying or unnailing the trees after the leaves fall must be 

 attended to. The wall and trees may be washed with a soft-soap solution, 4 ounces to the 

 gallon of water, as a preventive of insect and fungoid enemies, and all holes in the wall 

 should be stopped with good mortar, or, where the wall is wired, with cement, to close 

 the lurking-places of predatory vermin. Eearrange and adjust the branches and shoots, 

 securing as far as possible a symmetrical and even distribution as best calculated to 

 equalise the sap in the several parts. Allow plenty of space in the ligatures, using soft 

 material, and avoid damage to the bark by bruising or nails. Permitting fruit trees to 

 remain untended until the buds swell gives insects an advantage, and those cultiva- 

 tors attain the greatest success who are well in advance with all necessary opera- 

 tions. 



PRUNING. 



This is necessarily determined by the system of culture pursued. Fan-trained 

 trees are pruned on the long, and cordon trees on the short system. These systems have 

 been alluded to under " Training," but further instructions on pruning are needed by 

 the inexperienced. 



Long Pruning. By this system the fruit is produced on shoots of the preceding 

 year from a main branch, such as shown (R) Fig. 26. It is not stopped unless it exceeds 

 15 inches, then it is pinched, causing laterals to push. These are stopped at the first leaf 

 and to one of subsequent growth, and cut away in autumn when the wood is well ripened, 

 as indicated by the bars ; but if the wood is not ripe at the extremity of the shoot it is cut 

 back, leaving 12 inches of firm wood, as shown by the bar across the shoot. 



The following year the shoot just mentioned produces fruit as represented in ($) ; its 

 current growths are closely pinched to one or two leaves as produced, some growths 

 being necessary to attract the sap to the fruit. From the base of the fruit-bearing 

 branch a shoot is encouraged and laid-in along it, and the young shoot is treated simi- 

 larly to that of the previous year. The bearing branch is cut out after the fruit 

 is gathered, immediately above the current year's shoot, which is to produce fruit 

 the following season, and so on from year to year. 



