132 



FRUIT TREES. 



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Select trees grafted on paradise stocks of one year if 

 the soil is of good quality, or grafted 

 on French stocks if the soil is parched 

 and dry. Plant in a straight line five 

 feet apart if paradise, and eight feet if 

 on French [crab]- stocks. Cut off one- 

 third of the length of the stem, and 

 then leave the plants to themselves 

 during the summer. The following 

 year, at the winter pruning, place a 

 galvanised iron wire (A), securely 

 fastened at each extremity, along the 

 line of the trees ; this must be made 

 I H tight by means of the tightener B, and 

 J f supported every twelve feet by a small 

 "I post (C) about eighteen inches above 



GO 



the ground. The wire being properly 

 I* fixed, bend the branches of the trees 

 o in a horizontal direction, and fasten 

 Ji them to the wire. During the fol- 

 eo lowing year remove all the shoots 

 which spring from the upright por- 

 tion of the stem; they absorb too 

 much of the sap, to the deprivation 

 of the horizontal branches. Apply to 

 the other shoots the treatment de- 

 scribed for pears, in order to trans- 

 form them into fruit-branches. Leave 

 the terminal shoot to grow as much 

 as it will during the summer. At 

 the winter priming treat the fruit- 



