18 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [JAN. 



they producing their fruit upon short natural spurs from the sides 

 and ends of the branches, and the same branches continue bearing* 

 for many years, increasing their quantity of fruit-spurs as they gra- 

 dually advance in length ; let it therefore be remarked, that in the 

 general course of pruning those trees, their branches and shoots are 

 not to be shortened, but generally trained along horizontally to the 

 espalier and wall, at their natural length, at least as far as there is 

 scope of room to extend them ; never shortened except on particu- 

 lar occasions, below explained : and the whole trained four to five 

 or six inches asunder. 



Keeping therefore this in mind, look over the general branches, 

 in which observe, that in such advancing young trees as are still in 

 training, requiring a farther supply of young wood to form the head, 

 be careful to select and retain a proper quantity of the best-placed 

 last summers shoots at full length, and generally a terminal shoot 

 to each mother branch ; and cut out all the superfluous and irregu- 

 lar ones ; but, in full-trained or old trees, still retaining the former 

 trained or same individual bearing branches for many years, as long 

 as they continue fruitful ; and only examine any particular branches 

 that appear worn out or decayed, or any that are too much crowded 

 or very irregular, and let such be now pruned out ; at the same 

 time observe where any of the last summer's shoots are wanted to 

 supply vacant spaces, and retain them accordingly ; cutting out all 

 the superfluous or over abundant, dose to the main branches ; like- 

 wise, let all fore right and other irregular-placed shoots be cut away ; 

 carefully retaining the leading shoot to all the main branches, where 

 there is a scope to run them ; so retaining the general branches and 

 the necessary supply of young wood, about four to five or six inches 

 asunder, to be trained to the trellis or wall, 8cc. all at their full 

 length, as aforesaid ; and, according as they advance in length, still 

 continue extending them, or without shortening, at least as far as 

 their limited space admits. 



In the course of this pruning, have particular care to preserve 

 all the natural fruit-spurs ; but cut away all those formed of the 

 remaining stumps of shortened shoots, for these rarely produce any 

 thing but a confusion of unnecessary wood-shoots every summer : 

 and for which reason be careful, in pruning out the superfluous and 

 irregular shoots, always to cut them off quite close from whence- 

 they originate. 



Then train in, all the remaining proper,branches and shoots at 

 their full length, about from four to five or six inches asunder, as 

 aforesaid, without reducing them in length either in the summer or 

 winter pruning. 



By the above practice, the shoots or branches of these trees will, 

 about the second or third year after they are laid in, begin to pro- 

 duce short shoots or spurs (as they are generally termed) about an 

 inch or two in length ; some not above half an inch ; and from these 

 the fruit is produced. 



But if the branches of these trees were to be shortened, it would 

 be cutting oft* the very part where blossom-buds or spurs first begin 

 to appear ; and instead of those fruitful parts, they would send forth 



