'24:4: PRUNING. 



Section 5. — ^Pruning and Management of the Plum. 



The phim bears its fruit on spurs produced on wood 

 two years old and nj^wards, like tlie cherry (see fruit 

 branches). On yoimg trees these spurs are several years 

 in the process of formation ; but when they commence to 

 bear they endm-e, if well managed, for many years. 

 They are generally furnished with wood buds on their 

 lower parts ; and when they begin to grow feeble, they 

 ought to be renewed by cutting back. The plum is almost 

 universally grown as a standard, and the head may be 

 conducted in the same manner as described for the cherry. 

 The branches should be mainly regulated by summer 

 pinching, to obviate the necessity of knife i^nming, that 

 frequently gives rise to the gum. Some varieties of very 

 rapid growth produce shoots three or four feet long in one 

 season ; and if not shortened back at the spring pruning, 

 the tree presents long naked branches in a short time. 



The chief difficulty in the way of conducting it as a 

 pjTamid, is its great vigor ; but this can in a great mea- 

 sure be overcome by the use of dwarfing stocks^ \>j piiicJi- 

 mg and by root jyvuning. 



The latter will be found a most efficient mode of keeping 

 the trees small and fruitful. We have had no experience 

 with the plum as a pyramid ; but Mr. Rivers says, that by 

 root pruning annually in October and ^November, he has 

 succeeded in making handsome pyramidal trees. Stand- 

 ards and dwarf standards may also be root pruned to 

 advantage in small gardens, and where it is desirable to 

 get them into early bearing. 



The plum may be trained in any of the espalier forms 

 already described, and in the same manner. 



