PRUNING AND TRAINING. 37 



to prevent their stretching or twisting their footstalks. 

 The sap reaches the fruit through the vessels which 

 traverse the stalk. If left without support it will often 

 happen that the fruit grows unequally, and a twisting 

 movement of the stalk follows, which injures the sap 

 vessels. Besides, the weight of the fruit alone, hanging 

 upon its stem, stretches the sap vessels, and diminishes 

 their diameter. When the fruits are supported, the 

 sap penetrates more freely, and their size is augmented 

 accordingly. 



Keep the fruits in their normal position during the 

 entire period of their development, that is, with the fruit- 

 stem lowermost. The sap acts with greater force when 

 it flows upwards ; a vertical position, therefore, of the 

 stalk causes the sap to ascend more easily and in 

 greater quantity, and the fruit will become larger. 



Place the fruits under the shade of the leaves during the 

 entire period of their growth. The action of strong light 

 and heat has the effect of hardening the tissues, and 

 destroying their elasticity, and consequently the power 

 of extension in yielding to the action of the sap. If a 

 young fruit he exposed to the power of the sun, it will 

 be smaller than one shaded by the leaves, because its 

 skin will be hardened, and not give way to the tendency 

 of the sap to expand it. Fruits, when arrived at their 

 full size, will be greatly improved by exposure to the 

 sun, as it will impart colour and a finer flavour, and 

 ripen them in greater perfection. 



Apply to the young fruits a solution of sulphate of iron. 

 We have already seen that a solution of sulphate of 

 iron applied to the leaves stimulates their powers of 



