216 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



more flesh than four fruits of Q f for they swell very little in the ripening stages through 

 the greater number of seeds that need support on the branch ; indeed, the ripe fruit 

 (4) of Q is practically unsaleable as dessert fruit. In S is seen wood manufacture 

 at the expense of size in the fruits. The shoot A, in fi, is pinched, growth sturdy, 

 leaves thick, and well exposed to light and air ; whilst the shoot in $ had other shoots 

 to contend with, and equally making for light, hence the long, thin-leaved growth, 

 and, though shortened in summer to n, the fruits do not attain to the size and perfection 

 of those on branches which from first to last have been nourished by foliage fully 

 exposed to the light. The bush T conveys definite ideas on summer and winter 

 pruning, so that no one ought to fail in producing this national fruit in the greatest 

 abundance and most perfect manner. 



Summer pruning should be performed about midsummer, never later than early 

 July ; the leaders, in bushes extending, should be allowed to grow, but the side 

 shoots ought to be cut back to about five leaves, as too close pinching may cause 

 the base buds to push. 



Winter pruning is best done in November, or it may be conducted any time from 

 the fall of the leaves until the buds start in spring. (When the pruning is confined to 

 thinning the branches and shortening those which are too long, or cutting out worn-out, 

 it may be effected in summer after the bushes are cleared of fruit, this assisting the 

 wood to ripen and store more food.) Where bud-eating birds abound the pruning 

 may be deferred until spring, merely cutting out the branches or spurs denuded of 

 buds. This plan is apt to result in overcrowding and small fruit; and leaving the 

 whole of the young wood to bear often results in a full crop one year and none the 

 next. Bushes that produce fruit mainly on young wood only need judicious thinning 

 so as to keep the trees moderately open, and the leaders require little shortening. 

 This is as it should be wood produced to bear fruit instead of making work for 

 the knife. 



Protecting the Buds. Bullfinches and house sparrows often denude the bushes of 

 the best buds ; this may be prevented by having recourse to the means advised in Vol. I., 

 page 191. Fruit cages sometimes called gooseberry-houses (Vol. I., page 192) are 

 very efficient for preventing birds taking the buds in winter and the fruit in summer. 

 Another good plan is to run lines of black thread lengthwise and crosswise of the 

 bushes, forming large irregular meshes by winding the thread round the tips of the 

 branches,, this so annoying the birds as to ward off their attacks. This can be done 



