264 PRUNING. 



the trellis, the two main tranches are cut back to sixteen 

 or eighteen inches of the previous pruning, and the two 

 lower or secondary branches to twelve or sixteen inches. 



The fruit branches are shortened to within two or three 

 buds of their base, and all are again fastened back in their 

 places. When the young shoots have reached the length 

 of three, four, or five inches, such as are badly placed on 

 the front or rear of the branches, or in any place injurious 

 to the symmetry of the tree, are removed. During the 

 summer the different brandies must be laid in from time 

 to time, the most vigorous first. This year two more 

 secondary branches must be obtained on each side, in the 

 same manner as in the previous year. Their growth is 

 also promoted by the same means. 



The fruit branches on the sides of the main brandies 

 may give some fruit this year, and those on the secondary 

 branches may bear next year. 



The fruit branches that have borne are to be cut away 

 each year and replaced by others, therefore we must com- 

 mence to provide for these, branches of replacement. 

 They are produced as follows : 



First, it may be' observed that fruit branches have gen- 

 erally one or more wood buds at their base. Sometimes 

 these will push and form branches of replacement without 

 any assistance, more than cutting back. In such a case 

 there is no difficulty. When the fruit is ripe, or at the 

 next pruning, the fruit branch that has borne is cut away, 

 and the new one takes its place. But nature does not 

 always act thus. It is generally necessary to force the 

 development of these branches of replacement, without 

 which the branches in all their lower parts would become 

 entirely denuded. 



Hence, then, when a branch of replacement fails to ap- 

 pear by the ordinary method of shortening, we have two 

 modes of forcing it : one is to make, after the fruit is set, 

 an incision through the bark two inches above one of the 



