i8t, THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



different growths. Those on one to three years old wood are shown in Fig. 48. The 

 natural spur 8 has blossom buds, also terminal and basal wood buds : it must not 

 be shortened, for to prune at the outline would be to cut off the prospect of fruit. For 

 the same reason the long spur T may not be shortened to the outline, but left entire. 

 The shoot Z7, overlooked at the summer pruning or purposely then left to prevent the 

 lower buds starting, should be cut back to . a wood bud above or on a level with a 

 blossom bud, as at d. An extension shoot ( V), or one trained in to form a subsidiary 

 branch may be left entire, and fruiting spurs will push from the buds e in the following 

 year. If more branches are needed for covering the space regularly, the shoot must be 

 shortened to /, or at the basal outline above the wood buds, according to the place the 

 branch requires to be divided. In the case of a branch extending, W, the extension i 

 may be left its full length, also the subsidiary shoot/; but if more growths are needed 

 at a certain place shortening can be done at any point, as all the buds are wood buds. 

 If the subsidiary shoot is not required it should be cut clean out, instead of being 

 shortened to the outline, which would result in spray difficult to restrain, while its entire 

 removal concentrates the vigour on the main branch. When there is a reciprocal action 

 between the roots and branches and the extensions are left their full length, say i, spur 

 growth will issue from every wood bud the, following year and resemble the promising 

 condition shown on the two-years' wood at g. Only long spurs may be shortened, as at 

 h ; if the stubby fruitful spurs (g) were shortened to the wood buds near the base, 

 fruit would be prevented, and wood growth incited. The spurs should be kept close to 

 the branches as represented in the three-years' wood X. To prevent the undue elonga- 

 tion of spurs, shorten any having that tendency at Jc. If this is neglected the spur will 

 become impoverished at its base, as shown at Y. This should not be allowed and if it 

 occur cut boldly off at I ; this will impart vigour to the spurs left and enable them to 

 form blossom buds as at Z. When an elongated spur is shortened in the way described, 

 some of the growths may push strongly ; these should be pinched in summer and 

 shortened in autumn as at m. These principles apply to all forms of trained trees. 

 The object is to maintain equal vigour in the branches and admit light and air freely to 

 every part of the tree ; then it will be brought into the best condition for bearing full 

 crops of fruit. 



Bush, pyramid, and low standard trees need very little priming after they are shaped 

 and have arrived at a bearing age, for with firm soil, surface feeding and judicious 

 cropping, they bear enormously. The removal of enfeebled parts and cross branches 



