Pruning and Training 



winter these side shoots are again cut back to within 

 two or three buds. The leading shoots are not 

 summer pruned. 



A second system taught at Swanley twenty-four 

 years ago is quite different. The side shoots are 

 shortened to three buds late in May or early in 

 June, and any shoots which arise from these buds 

 will be cut back to one, or perhaps two buds late 

 in July or in August ; a third cutting back may be 

 necessary if new shoots arise from the latter buds in 

 the same year. 



Under a third system Lorette's no winter prun- 

 ing is done. The leaders are shortened in April or 

 May and the side shoots (laterals) during the summer 

 when they are about 10 inches long and fairly firm 

 or woody at the point where they are pruned. So that 

 in a normal year the pruning of the laterals would 

 thus commence at the end of May or early in June, 

 and it is continued throughout the summer just as, 

 and when, the laterals and sub-laterals (secondary 

 growths) reach the stage described above. Under 

 this system the exact point at which the lateral is 

 pruned varies considerably according to the charac- 

 ter of each shoot. A novice could not undertake 

 the work, as some experience is necessary to enable 

 a gardener to judge just where to cut. Briefly 

 stated, it may be said that there are three possi- 

 bilities : (i) Young laterals, possessing wood buds 

 only, will be cut right back to a point just 

 above the cluster or crown of leaflets which is to 

 be found just at the base of the shoot, care being 

 taken not to damage these leaves, for the idea 

 is to develop fruit buds from the stipulary " eyes " 

 in the axils of such leaves. (2) Shoots which 



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