8o THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



contain a growing point, which it is necessary to have on a level with or above them, 

 therefore, all pruning must be to a wood bud. A bearing shoot (M) is usually best 

 furnished with blossom buds on 8 to 12 inches of the first made and ripest growth, and 

 becomes attenuated towards its extremity. This part is worthless for the production of 

 fruit, and therefore, must be shortened to a growth bud. On thoroughly ripened wood 

 the shoot (M) is pruned to 12 inches, has a wood bud at its extremity, and another 

 at its base. It contains seventeen blossom buds, and eleven wood buds. Only two 

 of each are required to produce fruit and wood, but to make sure of these, all are 

 generally left for a time as shown in N t though the better practice is to remove 

 those on the under side or at the back of the branch as represented in 0. This 

 strengthens the blossoms and growths left, but we shall assume that all are left, and 

 proceed to the summer treatment of such branch. 



Summer Pruning. The bearing branch (P) is shown at the disbudding stage. 

 This important operation has been fully explained in Vol. I., page 186, and is 

 generally performed when the fruit is set. The shoots marked (t) are rubbed off by 

 degrees so as not to cause a check, but one at the extremity (u) is retained to attract 

 the sap to the fruit, and is pinched to three leaves, not counting the two small basal 

 leaves ; another shoot (v) is reserved at the base of the bearing branch, which makes 

 a sturdy growth for bearing the following year. Directly the best set fruits are 

 taking the lead in swelling, remove the smaller and ill-placed (tv), and when those 

 retained (#, y) are the size of small marbles, displace all (x) but two (y) of the best 

 situated on the front or upper side of the branch for ripening. 



Further summer manipulation is shown in Q. The bearing branch growth after being 

 stopped at #, pushes laterals (<?), from which, after pinching, sub-laterals (d) proceed, and 

 are stopped at every joint as made. All other growths from the bearing branch are 

 suppressed, and when the fruit is gathered the branch is cut out at its base (the bar). 

 The successional bearing shoot is trained-in, but when vigorous and certain to encroach 

 on other growths it must be stopped about 14 inches from its base (&), subsequent 

 growths (c) being stopped at one joint of growth, as shown, by nipping oif the point 

 (e). Other laterals may push as at /, but are more clearly shown in R, stopped at ^, 

 and if the shoots incline to grossness the leaves may be half shortened (bars), this 

 assists the formation of blossom buds in the axils of the leaves (/*), the point of winter 

 pruning. 



Under judicious summer management very little pruning is required in winter, 



