THE PLUM. 



193 



stone fruits only bear fruit once. During the follow- 

 ing summer we pinch again those of the new extensions 

 that have attained a length of two or three inches. 



Fig. 168. Third Year's Pruning of Fruit-Branches. 



Third Year. At the third spring the branch is 

 constituted as figure 168. It will be observed that the 

 small branches B and C have grown a little, and those 

 at D have shot out new branches ; most of these last 

 must be cut back a little in order to diminish the 

 number of the blossoms, and to prevent the too great 

 lengthening of the shoots. The same operations must 

 be continued from year to year, carefully cutting back, 

 not only the branches D, which will continue to 

 lengthen, but still more C and B, in order to develop 

 new replacing branches towards the base. 



K 



