540 



THE APPLE. 



allowed to grow, and are then shortened, as already directed for similar 

 shoots (see Second year s summer pruning}. The shoots which were pruned 

 as directed last winter, and had embryo buds (fig. 361, d() during this 

 summer generally have a fruit-bud, and in some cases two, formed at their 

 bases. The treatment of all shoots produced upon any of the spurs in future, 

 is agreeably to the previous instructions given. 



Always thin the fruit, and where two are situated together, take one 

 away ; this is done when they begin to swell. 



Fourth Year. Winter Pruning. The spurs (fig. 362, A B) which were 

 productive last summer, and upon which a shoot was made and shortened 

 (fig. 362, a, spur A), are now regulated in the following manner ; If there 

 be two good fruit-buds formed upon the stem of the spur (fig. 362, d d, 

 spur B), all that part of it above such buds is cut away, about a quarter of 

 an inch above the uppermost (as at c) ; but, if there is only one good fruit- 

 bud upon the stem, and one upon the shoot which was cut in during sum- 

 mer (as at a, spur A), then it is pruned off (as at spur c, e e\ so that two 

 buds only remain (as at f f). When there is only one fruit-bud upon the 

 stem of the spur (as spur D, a), and no fruitful buds at the shoot (6), then 

 all the spur is pruned away (as at c). Sometimes those spurs that bear 

 fruit will not have a shoot produced, but, instead of it, a fruitful bud (as 

 spur E, a) ; it is then pruned off just above such bud (as at &). 



Summer Pruning. All shoots are pruned, as already directed, in the 

 second and third years. 



Fifth Year. Winter Pruning. All the spurs are allowed to retain 

 three fruitful buds each ; but as there are generally more than is required 

 to keep, some of them are thinned away, retaining the best buds. The 

 ripest buds are most plump and red at the ends. If such buds are situated 

 near to the origin of the spur (as fig. 363, spur A, a a a), they are retained 



in preference to similar fruitful 

 buds that are nigher the end of 



the 8 P ur ( as b & ) '> the s P ur is 

 then cut off (as at c c). When 



there are no fruitful buds near 

 to the origin of the spur, those 

 are left that are further off ; but 

 always take care to preserve the 

 bud situated nearest to the 

 branch which supports the spur, 

 whether it be a growing or a 

 fruitful one (as spur B, in which 

 a is a fruitful bud, and b a grow- 

 ing one). 



If there be a suitable supply of buds upon the old part of the spur (^as 

 c, c c c), they are retained in preference to those buds formed at the bases 

 of shoots which have been pruned during summer (as e 6) ; for when there 

 is a proper supply on the old part of the spur, all such shoots are cut clean 

 away, with the exception of one that is situated near to the origin of the 

 spur (as e\ when that bud and the two next are only left. 

 Summer Pruning is performed as before directed. 

 Sixth Year. Winter Pruning. In order to convey a correct method of 



Fig. 363. Spur Pruning fifth year. 



