AV .LVD DAMSONS ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM OF TRAINING. 193 



It may be carried out very successfully on the "U " system, and as it is applicable 

 to pears as well as to plums, an object lesson (Fig. 49) will be useful to beginners. 



The principles upon which this system is carried out differ only from long- 

 pruning in the peach in that the bearing branches are triennial instead of biennial. 



E 



g. 4fl. ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM OP BEARING IN THE PLUH. 



References : A , current year's shoots : ra, point of stopping ; o, unpinched shoot. B, one-year-old shoots or 

 branches : p, point of shortening. C, growths and fruit from one-year-old branches. D, two-years' branches : 

 q, point of shortening laterals. E, two-years' branch in bearing : r, point of cutting off after the fruit is gathered. 

 V, three-years' branch after bearing : s, point of shortening to a dormant basal bud ; dotted outline growth from basal 

 bud. G, alternate system on short-pruning: t, one-year branches; it, two-years' branches cut out after bearing; 

 v, spurs. 



The branches are originated about 1 foot apart on opposite sides of the main 

 stem and are trained in their full length unless likely to exceed the limit, when 

 they may be pinched as at U n, say at 14 inches' length, the laterals being stopped as 

 already advised. These must be cutback at the winter pruning ( V p). In the following 

 VOL. IIT. c c 



