74 



THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



subsidiary growths (&), bearing shoots (I). As will be seen, the tree has extended twice 

 as much upwards as sideways a sure sign that the lower branches will soon become too 

 weak to bear fruit. The plan, however, is a fashionable one, and practised to cover 

 space and obtain fruit quickly, irrespective of the appearance and durability of the trees. 

 By shortening the tree ( U) to the bars in the spring after planting, two shoots will be 

 originated from each side branch and three from the central one ; the result is a head 

 with eleven shoots, as shown in the "rider" tree (V). These may be trained stellate 

 with the object of securing a good supply of fruit whilst the dwarf-trained trees advance 

 so as to require the space. 



In the true fan (W) the tree has no central stem. Such a tree is obtained by cutting 



Fig. 18. THREE -YEAES- OLD ENGLISH FAN-TRAINED PEACH TREK. 



References : X, three-years-trained tree : o, extension shoots ; p, bearing shoots ; q, laterals after stopping the 

 bearing shoots ; r, laterals from extension shoots : bars, points of winter pruning. 



out the leader i in 27, and shortening the side shoots (ti) to the bars. The following 

 summer two shoots extend from each shortened branch, these eight shoots forming the 

 foundation of the future tree. Only the upper six branches are shortened the following 

 spring, removing about one-third of their length, leaving the lower branches intact ; but 

 when the wood is soft or damaged the growths must be shortened to well- ripened parts, 

 and just above a wood bud. 



The following summer two shoots are taken forward from the two lowest branches 

 on each side of the stem, but one only from each of the four upper branches of the tree, 

 W, Fig. 17; all these growths are termed extension shoots (o), Fig. 18. Along the 



