266 



PRUNING. 



bearing shoots on the upper sides into three secondary 

 branches, corresponding and alternating with the three 

 lower ones. To do this we select the fruit branch on each, 

 nearest the fork or base of the main branches. The 

 growth of this is favored by training it in an upright posi- 

 tion, and by pinching any vigorous shoots near it. The 

 tree is managed thus, as in preceding years, in regard to 

 laying in the shoots according to their vigor, and pinch- 

 ing to maintain regularity, etc. 



The Sixth Year (fig. 128). The pruning is conducted 

 on the same principles precisely, and another interior 

 secondary branch is produced in the same way as last 

 year. 



The Seventh Year (fig. 129). Another is produced on 

 each, and then the tree, with its two main branches and 

 twelve secondary branches, all trained in the form of a 

 parallelogram, is complete (fig. 130). 



Fig. 131 represents the tree complete, bearing shoots 

 and all. 



The main branches should be permanently fixed at an 



Fig. 128. 



SIXTH YEAR. 



Fig. 129. 

 SEVENTH TEAR. 



angle of 45 ; the lowest 

 exterior secondary branch- 

 es at 15. Some cultiva- 

 tors recommend that the 

 interior secondary branch- 

 es converge to the center 

 at an angle of 45. This 



gives them an oblique direction, and places them upon 



a more equal footing with the other parts. 



Fig. 130. EIGHTH YEAR. 



