Encyclopaedia of Gardening 137 



better to plant later, and it may be done up to the end of March. 

 Standard and half-standard trees should be set 24 ft. apart, the 

 distance to be increased to 30 ft. for Bramley's Seedling, Newton 

 Wonder, Emperor Alexander, Lane's Prince Albert, Blenheim 

 Orange, and other strong Apples, also for Plums and Cherries. 

 Bush and pyramid trees on dwarfing stocks may be 12 ft. apart. 



Pruning. Practically all fruit trees require shortening when 

 young. If they are allowed to grow right away from the bud or 

 graft (see Budding and Grafting) they make lank growth, and the 

 lower part of the tree is bare. A first-year (" maiden ") tree should 

 be pruned back to 6 buds in winter, or before it starts growing in 

 spring. A two-year-old tree should have its side branches shortened 

 by three-quarters, and a three-year-old tree, after transplanting, by 

 one-half. A three -year-old half -standard or standard should be 

 shortened by at least two-thirds when transplanted. 



Summer pruning. This does not concern shortening the main 

 branches to get a good head, but deals with the summer side shoots 

 to get fruit. It is a good practice, because it exposes the wood to 

 the sun and accelerates ripening. Those who want to grow exhibi- 

 tion fruit, and have plenty of time, may pinch off the tips of the 

 side shoots at the end of May, and serve the secondary shoots that 

 break in the same way 6 weeks later; but busy people and market 

 growers should make one pruning suffice, and do it from mid- 

 August to mid-September. This 

 applies to Apples, Pears, Plums, 

 red Currants, and Gooseberries. 



Gathering. Generally speak- 

 ing, fruit should be gathered as 

 soon as it parts from the tree 

 under gentle pressure on the 

 stalk. Late varieties do not 

 ripen on the trees, and should 

 be gathered before sharp frost 

 comes. The fruit should be 

 placed in the receptacles gently, 

 as if bruised it will not keep. 



Storing. All the important 

 fruits, except Apples, Pears, and 

 Grapes, are either used at once 

 or preserved. Late Apples and 

 Pears will keep for several months 

 in a cool, airy, frost-proof place 

 if spread thinly on clean boards. 

 Grapes may be kept a long time 

 if cut with a portion of the 

 lateral and this placed in a bottle P RUN ING YOUNG STANDARD FRUIT TREES. 

 of water. i Point of previous pruning. 2. Side shoots 



Types of tree. The most pOpU- with young growths (3) to be pruned at 

 lar types are the standard, the the^bars u ). 5. Shoot to be removed 

 half-standard, the bush, the pyra- 

 mid, the fan, the espalier, and the cordon. Standards and half - 

 standards have clean, straight stems about 6 and 3 ft. high 



