224 PRUNING 



are needed to fill up a space, those next the leader, if 

 properly situated to fill the space, are chosen, and all be- 

 low them are pinched when about two or three inches 

 long, in order to check the production of wood where it 

 is not wanted, and to convert them into fruit branches or 

 spurs. The growth of all the main and secondary 

 branches is regulated and balanced by pinching ; and if 

 the pinched shoots, intended for fruit spurs, start again 

 into growth, they must be again pinched. 



The third season, the shoots of the previous year are cut 

 back as before, say to four, five, or six eyes, according to 

 their strength. One shoot is chosen to continue the pro- 

 longment of the branch, and the others are pinched in 

 season to convert them into fruit spurs. Thus the tree is 

 conducted from year to year, until it has attained the full 

 size required. In this wlay the trees commence bearing 

 quite young, and every branch is furnished, in all its 

 length, with fruit spurs. 



Pyramids. Under the head of "the selection of trees," 

 it has been recommended to obtain thrifty yearling trees 

 in preference to older ones, not properly managed. We 

 will, therefore, begin with the yearling tree, and although 

 the management of the first year after cutting back has 

 been given in the nursery, it may be well to repeat it 

 here, to save the reader the trouble of referring back. 



Objects of cutting back. The object in doing this is to 

 produce branches near the stock, that will form the base 

 of the future pyramid. If left entire, the tendency of the 

 sap to the extremities would produce shoots there only, 

 leaving a naked space entirely inconsistent with the form 

 in view. We therefore reduce the stem to such an ex- 

 tent, that but a small number of buds are left on it, and 

 the sap, acting on these with great force, causes their 

 development. 



Sow far to cut back. It is obvious that this must de- 

 pend on the character of the subject. In yearling plants, 



