SPUR PRUNING THE APPLE. 



541 



Fig. 364. Spur Pruning, sixth year. 



the treatment of the spurs in future, it will be necessary to point them out 

 by numbers, as 1, 2, and 3. The enumeration will proceed from the bole of 

 the tree, along the branch. After three spurs are thus numbered, begin 

 again, and proceed with No. 1, &c. (agreeably to fig. 364). 



Every spur, No. 1, is now cut down to the lowest bud there is upon 

 it, whether it be a fruitful bud (as a), or growing bud (as 6). Every 

 spur, No. 2, to have three fruit buds (as ccc), and every spur, No. 3, to 

 have four fruit buds (as d d d d). When a spur, No. 1, is destitute of 

 either a fruitful or a 



growing bud towards ^k. 



the lower part of it, 

 such a spur is cut down 

 so low as only to leave 

 about one half inch re- 

 maining (as fig. 364, A). 

 There is generally an 

 eye or embryo of a bud 

 situated near to the 

 origin of the spur (as a, 

 spur A) ; from this a 

 shoot or a fruitful bud 

 is produced the ensuing 

 summer, and thus a supply is obtained for that cut away. 



Summer Pruning. All shoots are shortened during summer, as before 

 directed. Particular care is paid to the spurs No. 1, as a shoot or a fruitful 

 bud is generally produced nearer to the base of the spur than to the bud 

 that was left at winter pruning, and most commonly at the opposite side of 

 the spur to it. Either a shoot or a fruitful bud generally pushes from those 

 spurs that were cut entirely down (as spur A, fig. 364) ; the shoots are cut 

 down, as directed for others. 



Seventh Year. Winter Pruning. The spurs No. 1 now generally have 

 two fruit-buds each ; they are allowed to retain them (as fig. 365, a a). If, 

 instead of a fruitful bud, a shoot pushed (as 6), and a fruitful bud was 



formed at the lower 

 part of it; the shoot 

 is then cut off just 

 above it (as at c) ; 

 but if there is not a 

 fruitfulbud formed, 

 it is cu t do wn , so as to 

 leave it half an inch 

 long (as at d). The 

 spurs No. 2 have 

 four fruit-buds left 

 upon each (as e e e e) ; the spurs, No. 3, are now cut down, so that only one 

 fruitful bud remains (as/). 



If a fruit-bud has been produced from the spur cut entirely away (as 

 spur A, fig. 364), it is left entire (as fig. 365, #) ; but if a shoot, instead of 

 a fruitful bud, it is cut off just above the lowest bud, whether a fruitful or 

 a growing bud (as at , spur B). This treatment to such spurs cut entirely 

 down, is always pursued to similar ones in future. 



N N 



Fig. 365. Spur Pruning, tevi-nth y 



