THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



The branches extend annually, and some of the buds formed on the shoots made each 

 year are blossom buds, often all, except one or two at the extremity, arid a few at 

 the base. In some cases there is a sprinkling of wood buds along the shoots ; those 

 develop into spurs the following year. An illustration (Fig. 43) will enable the un- 

 initiated to distinguish the different growths and buds. 



Summer Pruning. Whilst the tree is young and foliage is required to accelerate 

 root action, the summer shoots may be allowed to make more growth before short- 

 ening than is desirable after it becomes thoroughly established. The side shoots, how- 

 ever, must not be allowed to interfere with the leaders, but be kept subservient to 

 them by pinching when they are likely to compete for vigour with the leading growths. 



In the first few years the 

 side shoots may be allowed 

 to grow until midsummer 

 or later, say to a length of 1 

 foot, and then be shortened 

 to five leaves or about 3 

 inches in length, pruning 

 those on the upper branches 

 a week or ten days before 

 those on the lower parts of 

 the tree. This will tend to 

 equalise vigour, imparting 

 it to the lower branches and 

 causing the leader to make 

 more progress. Subse- 

 quent growths from the 

 shortened shoots should be pinched at the first leaf as made. 



The leading shoots, those at the ends of the branches, or emanating from the stem 

 to form branches, need not be shortened where space admits, for they will form wood 

 buds throughout their length whilst young, these for the most part developing into 

 spurs the following season ; or when the flush of youth is past, and they are not made 

 to push strong growths by shortening, they will set fruit buds in the year of formation, 

 with some wood buds interspersed, yet not always, as shown in the above illustration, E, 

 and the finest cherries are produced from such young shoots the following year, 



Fig. 43. CHEEKY SPUES, FETTITING BEANCH, AND ONE YEAE'S WOOD. 



References: D, spurs from last year's wood, with blossom buds clustered 

 at their ends and a wood bud at the extreme points, r, and at their bases, 

 s. E, one year's shoot ; t, wood buds ; , blossom buds. F, fruiting branch ; 

 v, current year's shoots ; w, spurs on last years' wood ; x, two-years' spurs, 

 fruiting ; y, fruit produced from blossom buds on preceding year's wood. 



