SPECIAL CULTURE. 153 



Consideration will show; for it will be observed that the 

 first year's growth, both of main stem and branches, is 

 larger than the second, the second than the third, and the 

 third than the fourth. In this way, the parts of the tree 

 which naturally retain less sap are enabled to retain an 

 equal, or nearly equal, quantity, and are thus provided 

 with the vital force necessary to produce a corresponding 

 crop of fruit. 



In our directions, so far, we have said little or nothing 

 of the twigs, or laterals, on the main branches ; but near- 

 ly as much will depend on the treatment of these as of 

 the stem and principal branches themselves. But, when 

 understood, the labor is easy and light. All superfluous 

 buds must be rubbed off as they appear, and the strength 

 be preserved for the fruit-bearing wood. The main stem, 

 particularly, must not be allowed to nourish even a single 

 sucker, the branches only enough twigs to bear a full 

 crop. All others must be rubbed off or cut in. In prun- 

 ing these twigs in the summer, and especially when the 

 season is somewhat advanced, care must be taken to leave 

 enough wood and leaves to use the sap, and prevent its 

 starting the fruit-buds of the next season, whereby the 

 crop would be greatly injured or totally destroyed. And 

 here, again, the operator will need to be wary as well as 

 diligent. 



The pruning of the twigs, which are the fruit-bearing 

 wood, is almost identical with that of the vine when 

 trained on the spur system. They are first thinned to the 

 requisite number, the most healthy and vigorous ones be- 

 ing left ; they are then shorten ed-in to a proper length ; 

 and this will depend much upon the distance between the 

 main branches themselves. The twigs of proximate 

 branches may touch each other, but must not overlap. A 

 full grown tree, properly pruned, will present early in the 

 spring, just before the buds shoot, an appearance some- 

 what like that seen in fig. 24. 



