APRICOTS PRUNING. 



is made to arrest it, the growths are similar to that represented in Z, namely, exuberant 

 but sappy, with the laterals long jointed and thin. In June or later the foliage suddenly 

 flags, and one more instance is pointed out of branches "dying off without cause." The 

 fact is, the cultivation is at fault. The sap had become vitiated, the whole of the tissues 

 were soft through imperfect elaboration and assimilation, and the germ tubes of the fungus 

 Coryneum Beijerincki found entrance, producing an exudation, gum, the branch 

 collapsing with its fruits, as represented in A. The over-luxurianceplethoramight 

 have been prevented by 

 root-pruning at the end of 

 the preceding August, and 

 firmer, healthier growth 

 induced. 



One great advantage of 

 short pruning is the facility 

 it offers for controlling the 

 roots by lifting, and correct- 

 ing errors of soil constit- 

 uents, or staple. So pro- 

 nounced is the free cropping 

 of trees on this system that 

 it is often abused by the 

 grower. Because a one- 

 year's branch is well fur- 

 nished with spurs when the 



Fi^. 27. APEICOT BRANCH TYPICAL GUOWTHS AND PEUNINO. 



ITUlt IS gathered, It IS left, References: W, part of a main branch, showing side growth and tubsi- 



instead of beino- Cut Out diary branche9 > ** two-year-old wood cut away to the bars ; , one year's wood 



for next year's bearing ; v, extremity growth of subsidiary branch not pushing 



There WOuld be no harm side shoots to be cut away to the bar ; w, a refractory or neglected spur 

 J.-L j. -f J.T- shortened to the bar ; x. a promising shoot to be encouraged ; y, shoot 



in that if there were space , , , 



pushed from a latent bud. 



for it and the successional 



growths ; but mischief results in allowing growths to be made, without cutting any 

 away, for the growths become crowded and attenuated, deriving little, if any, benefit 

 from the wall. No growth ought to remain after the second or third year, then the side 

 branches would never get into the unsatisfactory condition shown on the upper side of 

 the main branch in the figure (B\ Fig 29. 



