180 FRUIT TREKS. 



the rest pinched as soon as the second pair of leaves 

 appear, and the eyes of the lower leaves are formed, the 

 leaves at the base being alone retained. If this is 

 performed too late, the pair of leaves at the base are 

 drawn out by the lengthening of the shoot, and there 

 will be at the winter pruning a branch resembling the 

 figure 160. If the operation be performed too soon, 



Fig. 159. Irregular Shoot, pinched Short. 



before the eyes of the lower leaves are properly formed, 

 the shoot will wither, as shown at fig. 161. When, 

 however, the operation is performed at the proper time, 

 the shoot ceases to grow longer, and the lower pair of 

 leaves remain at the base. At the time of winter 

 pruning the branch is constituted, as shown at figs. 162 

 and 163. 



It not unfrequently occurs that the irregular shoots 

 develop so vigorously that, notwithstanding pinching, 

 their stems continue lengthening and draw out with 



