74 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Spurs. Two descriptions of spurs are produced by apricot trees : natural and artificial. 

 A natural spur is a short, stubby shoot, the leaves disposed in a cluster, in the axils of 

 which buds form, mostly blossom-buds, but always terminated by a wood bud. The 

 different spurs will be readily recognised on comparing the figures with the growths on 

 apricot trees. 



The three-years-old spur E (page 73), shows the rate of increase in growth, it not 

 having been shortened in the second year, but ought to be in the third year to the bars. 

 Treated as advised, the spurs are kept thin, close to the stem, and fruitful. Neglected 

 spurs become crowded, long, and barren. Artificial spurs are formed by pinching shoots 

 that are not required for extension to a few leaves, and stopping all growths subse- 

 quently at the first leaf throughout the season. In the illustration, F, a shoot is stopped 

 at the second leaf, with the lateral pinched at the first leaf, and pushing again at the 

 next. Blossom-buds having formed at the two lower joints, the shoot is shortened to 

 the bar. The result is shown in 6r, and part of the growth is marked for pruning after 

 the fruit is gathered. H shows the growth from an artificial spur in the third year, 

 with a shoot (Z) from a latent bud at the base of the spur, pinched at the second leaf. 

 This is not shortened., blossom-buds bristle at every joint, and the wood is hard, but 

 after fruiting the following year it is shortened to the dotted bar. 



Short stubby growths of the spur character often show blossom and perfect fruit 

 in adverse seasons, when other parts of the tree are fruitless, especially when the 

 growths have full exposure and are kept short, so as to derive benefit by the warmth 

 from the wall ; therefore, encourage such growths, but they must not be t >o numerous. 



Eeductions of wood, whether in shortening and thinning spurs, or cutting out growths 

 no longer required, ought to be completed not later than early September. The increased 

 light and air thereby admitted assist the wood to mature, and assure the buds perfecting. 

 The final pruning should be performed in October. This will be a light affair, as 

 where summer pruning has been properly attended to, and there is a reciprocity of action 

 between the roots and the branches, little further pruning will be required. If an apricot 

 tree does not ripen its annual growths to their tips, and produce blossom -buds at almost 

 every joint, it is growing in too rich, moi3t, or loose soil. No amount of branch pruning 

 will overcome difficulties of that nature, as the spade, not the knife, is the immediate 

 agent that is needed. Many failures occur through mismanagement, but climate has 

 great influence over apricots. In some localities their culture is pronounced a failure ; but 

 the real cause of failure may often be traced to excessive vigour and excessive pruning. 



