THE APRICOT. 269 



to be renewed by cutting back. The plum is almost uni- 

 versally grown as a standard, and the head may be con- 

 ducted in the same manner as described for the cherry. 

 The branches should be mainly regulated by summer 

 pinching, to obviate the necessity of knife-pruning, that 

 frequently gives rise to the gum. Some varieties of very 

 rapid growth produce shoots three or four feet long in 

 one season ; and if not shortened back at the spring pru- 

 ning, the tree presents long naked branches in a short 

 time. 



Standards and dwarf standards may be root-pruned to 

 advantage in small gardens, and where it is desirable to 

 get them into early bearing. 



The plum may be trained in any of the espalier forms 

 already described, and in the same manner. 



SECTION 6. PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE APRICOT. 



The Apricot, like the peach, has fruit and wood buds 

 mixed on the shoots of one year's growth. It has also 

 little fruit branches or spurs like the plum, which are 

 capable of being renewed by shortening. 



The mode of pruning must therefore have in view the 

 production of young wood, and maintaining the spurs in 

 a vigorous and fruitful state. When neglected, it becomes, 

 like the peach, denuded of young bearing wood in the in- 

 terior, and enfeebled by over-fruitfulness. The shoots 

 should therefore be shortened every season, according to 

 their length, as recommended for the peach, to reduce the 

 number of blossom buds, and favor the production of new 

 bearing wood. 



It is very liable to the gum, and severe pruning with 

 the knife should be. obviated as far as possible by pinch- 

 ing. It may be conducted as a standard, pyramid, 

 dwarf, or espalier, on the same principle as other trees. 

 When trees become enfeebled by neglect or age, they can 



