PRUNING AND GENERAL CULTIVATION. 135 



but larger varieties, such as Pond's Seedling, or Victoria, 

 should be thinned to six inches or more, according to the 

 sample of fruit required. 



Insects that infest plums on walls are the white aphis 

 and red spider, but both may be easily dealt with by 

 syringing with insecticides, as before recommended, or, in 

 the case of red spider, with clear water only. 



Gumming sometimes takes place in plums, in which 

 case be sparing with the knife to the branches, but apply 

 it to the root. Practise the extension system as far as 

 space will allow, as it is almost impossible for a plum to 

 fruit if pruned severely year after year, the result being 

 coarse growth and no fruit-buds. 



Other diseases, see Part I. 



Cherries, Fan-Trained. 



Pruning may be done the same as for pears. 



Watering, also the same. 



Thinning the fruit will not be necessary in the case of 

 cherries ; they frequently thin themselves severely during 

 the stoning time. The fruit is on the trees such a short 

 time that there is not the continual strain as in the case 

 of other fruits. Dropping is generally caused by the roots 

 becoming dry, as they require to absorb an enormous 

 amount of moisture in a short time in order to perfect 

 their fruit ; therefore a mulching is frequently beneficial. 



Cordon Fruit Trees. 



Planting, Training, and Treatment. 



This method of training is suitable alike for apples, 

 pears, plums, or cherries, whether for walls, espalier fenc- 

 ing, wire arches, or as dwarf edgings, and is decidedly 



