JUNE] 



THE ORCHARD. 



439 



Fig. 51. 



the uppermost bud a to proceed in that direction. On the contrary, 

 if the uppermost bud a had been on the inside of a shoot, of which 

 it would have been desirable that the direction should be outwards, 

 towards the right, then it would have 

 been entirely wrong to cut at that bud. 



Observing thus to cut at the proper 

 buds, each leading branch may be made 

 to diverge outwards, or to either side, 

 to an extent sufficient for ordinary cul- 

 tivation. The pruning of one of the 

 leading branches may now be detailed 

 from its commencement. In autumn, 

 or early part of winter, the shoot ought 

 to be shortened to some extent, bear- 

 ing in mind that generally the three 

 buds immediately below the section 

 will break into shoots; therefore, it 

 will be advisable to cut where another 

 leader is required to originate This 

 is the first winter pruning. The se- 

 cond will consist in shortening the 

 leading shoot about one-third; and 

 also the other shoot intended for an 

 adjoining leader. If there should be 

 another young shoot growing strongly 

 where not wanted, it may be cut off 

 close; and others, weaker, may be cut 

 like that marked c on the right of the 

 engraving. The next season the leader 

 should be shortened, and laterals cut 

 to one eye, if weak; but otherwise 

 three or four eyes may be left on these, 

 some of which will probably break into 

 shoots, and others will form fruit-spurs. 

 The other branches will require a si- 

 milar treatment. Young shoots should 

 be trained up to supply the place of 

 any branch exhibiting symptoms of 

 decay. 



In the midland and northern coun- 

 ties, an open cup-form of bush is gene- 

 rally aimed at in pruning; on the con- 

 trary, in some cases in the South, 

 although the branches are pruned and 

 thinned, yet some are left in the cen- 

 tre for the purpose of shade, otherwise 

 the fruit would be scorched. Shoot of Currant. 



The CURRANT-BUSH. Under every a, a, a, a, wood-buds. &, &, fruit* 

 mode of training, the red Currant, and 

 also the white, require to be regularly 

 pruned every year. In rearing the 



buds, but amongst them there are 



