THE FILBEKT. 303 



■within the branches, to which the shoots are to be fas* 

 tened at equal distances. By this practice two consider- 

 able advantages will be gained — the trees will grow more 

 regular, and the middle will be kept hollow, so as to ad- 

 mit the influence of the sun and air. 



" In the third year a shoot will spring from each bud ; 

 these must be suffered to grow until the following autumn, 

 or fourth year, when they are to be cut off" nearly close 

 to the original stem, and the leading shoot of the last year 

 shortened two-thirds. 



" In the fifth year several small shoots will arise from 

 the bases of the side branches which were cut off" the pre- 

 ceding year. These are produced from small buds, and 

 would not have been emitted had not the branch on which 

 they arc situated been shortened, the whole nourishment 

 being carried to the upper part of the branch. It is from 

 these shoots that fruit is to be expected. These produc- 

 tive shoots Avill in a few years become very numerous, 

 and many of them must be taken off", particularly the 

 strongest, in order to encourage the production of the 

 smaller ones, for those of the former year become so ex- 

 hausted that they generally decay ; but whether decayed 

 or not, they are always cut out by the pruner, and a fresh 

 supply must therefore be provided to produce the fruit in 

 the succeeding year. The leading shoot is every year to 

 be shortened two-tliirds, or more should the tree be weak, 

 and tlie whole hight of the ])ranches must not exceed 

 six feet. 



" The method of pruning above detailed might, in a few 

 words, be called a method of spurring, by which bearing 

 shoots are produced, which otherwise would have had no 

 existence. Old trees are easily induced to bear in this 

 manner, by selecting a sufficient number of the main 

 branches, and then cutting the side shoots off", nearly close, 

 excepting any should be so situated as not to interfere 

 with the others, and there should be no main branch di- 



