220 PRUNING. 



its full size. Fig. 109 represents a dwarf apple tree, four 

 years old, three times pruned — the two last prunings are 

 indicated by the letters a and h. 



Management of the Bearing Tree. — In most cases the 

 apple on the paradise is disposed to excessive fruitfulness, 

 and unless the fruit branches be occasionally thinned and 

 shortened, in order to reduce the number of bearing 

 buds, and to produce new wood, the trees become enfee- 

 bled. Bad management of this kind has promulgated 

 the belief that the apple on the paradise is exceed- 

 ingly short-lived ; but the fact that plantations exists in the 

 most perfect vigor at the end of twelve to fifteen years 

 after planting, shows that by proper treatment their exist- 

 ence is not so fleeting. The spurs must be managed in a 

 manner similar to that described in treating of pyramids, 

 to renew them, and the slender fruit branches must be short- 

 ened. This, in addition to the mannring to be hereafter 

 described, constitutes the substance of their management. 



The Priming and Management of the Ajyj^^e and Pear 

 as espaliers. — In the cool, moist climate of England, this 

 is a popular and advantageous method of training apples 

 and pears. The specimens of this kind in public and 

 private gardens there, are admirable in their way, and 

 illustrate the skill and handiwork of the English gardener 

 very favorably. But our climate is not suitable as a gen- 

 eral thing for espaliers ; the branches are so exposed to 

 the rays of our powerful sun, that the sap is impeded in 

 its circulation, and the fruits fall. It is, therefore, un- 

 necessary to enter into any detail respecting this mode of 

 training ; but there may be situations where such a sys- 

 tem may succeed, and especially in the north. The best 

 espalier form for the apple and pear, is that of the hori- 

 zontal^ that is, an upright central stem, with horizontal 

 arms or branches at equal distances on both sides (fig. 

 110). The production of this tree depends in the main 



