150 FRUIT TREES. 



resorted to a third time. Should this, however, occur, 

 as A (fig. 126), the main shoot, must be cut off at B, 

 then the shoot C D. The shoot E, which is reserved, 

 is at the same time to he pinched. By this means con- 

 fusion is avoided at the nailing up in summer. 



When the gourmand shoot (fig. 127), which extends 

 each branch, has attained a certain length, it will de- 

 velop irregular shoots ; these may be disbudded and 

 pinched. This mode of operating, however, only gives 

 rise to badly-formed fruit-branches for the winter 



Fig. 127. Extension bearing Irregular Shoots. 



pruning. It will be preferable to proceed thus : When 

 they show their second pair of leaves (E, fig. 128), cut 

 them with the nail below these last two leaves. Their 

 vegetation is thus suspended, and there will be by the 

 time of winter pruning a very short branch, much pre- 

 ferable to the result of the former process. 



It will be better not to apply these operations upon 

 the shoots further back than the point to which it may 

 be expected that they will be cut back at the winter 

 pruning. 



We have said that it is most important to train these 



