122 HORTICULTURE LECT. vm 



threaten to cause overcrowding. If he can pass his 

 hat between the main branches, all the better. 

 Blossom buds will then form all over them, but if 

 they are closely cut back every year a thicket of 

 growths will follow, and few, if any, blossom buds. 

 They formed all over the little tree in the illustration 

 (page 121) three years after it was planted, fruit 

 following, because, as may be seen, the leaves of one 

 branch do not crush against those on the others but 

 the sun can shine right into the centre of the tree ; 

 that is the important point to aim for in pruning for 

 fruit production, only taking off the ends of any 

 branches that extend much beyond the others, and 

 thus deprive the weaker of support. 



Selections of Fruit. In choosing varieties, re- 

 gard must be had to healthiness in growth, freedom 

 of cropping, and time of ripening of the fruit. Trees 

 delicate and liable to canker are best avoided. In 

 the case of apples it is also prudent to distinguish 

 strong growing varieties for orchard standards and 

 more compact growers for gardens, either as bushes, 

 on paradise stocks, or low standards with stems three 

 or four feet high. 



Apples. For planting, six to nine feet apart as 

 bushes, or twelve to fifteen feet as low standards. 

 For eating Mr. Gladstone, the first, but soon over ; 

 Duchess of Oldenburg, Irish Peach, Worcester Pear- 

 main, Lady Sudeley, King of the Pippins, Cox's 

 Orange Pippin, Cockle's Pippin, Braddick's Nonpareil 

 and Scarlet Nonpareil. They are arranged some- 

 what in order of ripening, and afford fruit from July 

 to June. Cox's Orange Pippin is the richest in 

 flavour and the best of all table apples for Christ- 

 mas. For cooking Mank's Codlin, Potts' Seedling, 

 Cellini, Stirling Castle, Frogmore Prolific, New Haw- 

 thornden, Jolly Beggar, Petty Geeson, Seaton House, 



