28 



THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



close-jointed tree for the 



Fiff. 27. 



latter, and when the founda- 

 tion is well laid better 

 ground may be allowed for 

 them. 



Fig. 27 is the maiden, 

 Fig. 26, two years old, or 

 rather two years planted, 

 three years old from the 

 graft. This is an example 

 of a tree well formed, and 

 that has been lifted and 

 thumb - and - finger pruned 

 through the summer. 



Fig. 28 is an example of 

 the same tree not thumb- 

 and- finger pruned, showing 

 a deficiency in fruit buds. 

 Little can be looked for from 

 Pear-trees of this class but 

 wood if they are not lifted 

 every alternate season, and 

 well followed up by thumb- 

 and-finger pruning. Incase 

 of neglect of this duty no 

 alternative remains but to 

 root- prune the plant in the 

 autumn, and to prune it 

 during February or March, 

 or even April. I choose the 

 spring annual pruning as 

 preferable to the autumn for 

 this class under such cir- 

 cumstances, because it will 

 rather reduce the tendency 

 to make wood than other- 

 wise, which is a necessary 

 thing when a Pear is winter 

 pruned. The last season's 

 growth should be cut off to 

 within one wood bud, and 



