238 



PRUNING. 



isting vacancies. All the other shoots are pinched when 

 two or three inches long, to convert them into fruit spurs, 

 and to prevent their interfering with the growth of the 

 wood branches. If one pinching is not sufficient, another 

 must be given in the same way as recommended for pyram- 

 idal trees. Indeed, the whole process, as far as it goes, 

 is the same ; but the same efforts are not necessary to 

 maintain an equal distribution of the sap, for the tree is 

 so low, and the form so natural, that no branch is more 

 favorably situated than another; and hence they are 

 easily kept in a uniform state of vigor. The branches of 

 irregular-growing sorts will require to be secured by 

 stakes in their proper places for a year or two at first, 

 until they have assumed a permanent position. 



The third and all subsequent primings will be con- 

 ducted on the same principles as 

 the first and second, already de- 

 scribed, until the tree has attained 

 its full size. Fig. 114 represents 

 a dwarf apple-tree, four years old, 

 three times pruned ; the two last 

 prunings are indicated by the let 

 ters a and b. 



Management of the Bearing 

 Tree. In most cases the apple on 

 the Paradise is disposed to ex- 

 cessive fruitfulness, and unless the 

 fruit branches be occasionally Fig 114. 



thinned and shortened, in order Dwarf ap pie-trce, four years 

 to reduce the number of bearing o]d > stem ten inches ni s h i head 



lit, , T composed of four main branches 



buds, and tO produce new WOOd, and several secondary branches: 



the tree becomes enfeebled. Bad pruned three times, as at , 6, 

 management of this kind has pro- ' 



mulgated the belief that the apple on the Paradise is ex- 

 ceedingly short-lived ; but the fact that plantations exist 

 in the most perfect vigor at the end of twelve to fifteen 



