228 



PKILNJLNG. 



tirely removed ; the leading shoot, which, in such cases, is 

 short, and provided with plump buds, does not require a 

 heavy shortening ; in most cases, 

 one - half will be quite sufficient. 

 Figure 110 represents a tree of this 

 kind ; the cross-lines indicate the cuts. 

 Where the lateral branches are short 

 and spur-like, they will require very 

 careful treatment ; the strongest and 

 best placed are reserved. If the 

 lower ones have good terminal buds, 

 they are left entire ; those above them 

 are shortened, the lower to three, 

 the next above to two, and the up- 

 permost, next the leading shoot, to 

 one bud. This will give their pro- 

 ductions a proper relative degree of 

 vigor. The leader is cut back fur- 

 ther than in the well-branched sub- 

 ject, because it is presumed the buds 

 are less excitable as a general 

 thing, within four to six buds of the 

 highest lateral, or one-half of its 

 length. 



There is another class of trees neces- 

 sary to be noticed here, because they 

 are very common two-year-old nur- 

 sery trees that have not been properly 

 treated. Figure 111 represents a tree 

 Fi. 109. o f t^jg k m <3 4 A few inches only of 



A two-year-old pear-tree, . , ~, , 



not cut back far enough the top were taken on at the com- 

 the first season; the second mencement of the second year's 



pruning, to produce bran- , , ^ ,, , ., , ,*. . 



ches below, is indicated by growth, and after that it was left to 

 the cross-line. itself. Branches, therefore, were pro- 



duced only at the top, leaving a vacant space of two 

 feet the very part that should have produced the first 



