FRUIT-GARDENING. 65 



buds, except to provide wood, in which case cut nearer to the 

 origin of the branch. As in these trees small fruit-spurs, an 

 inch or two long, often appear on some of the two or three 

 years' branches furnished with blossom-buds, these spurs should 

 generally be retained for bearing. As each tree is pruned, lay 

 in the branches and shoots from three to six inches distance, 

 and nail them straight or close to the fence or wall. 



The summer pruning is principally to regulate the young- 

 shoots of the same year. In the first place, take off close all 

 the irregular foremost shoots, taking care to retain a competent 

 supply of close side-shoots, with a good leader to each parent 

 branch. Continue these mostly at full length all the summer, 

 regularly trained in, to procure a sufficiency to choose from, in 

 the general winter pruning for new bearers the next year. If 

 the summer regulation commences early, while the shoots are 

 quite young and, as it were, herbaceous, those improper to 

 retain may be detached with the finger and thumb ; but when 

 of firmer growth, they must be removed with the knife. If 

 any strong shoots rise in any part where the wood is deficient, 

 they may be topped in June, which will cause them to produce 

 several laterals the same year, eligible for training in, to supply 

 the vacancy. 



Sometimes the fruit is much too numerous, if not destroyed 

 by insects often growing in clusters ; in which case thin them 

 while in a young, green state, leaving the most prominent fruit 

 singly, at three or four inches distance, or from about two to 

 six on the respective shoots, according to their strength. The 

 Apricots so thinned off, and the first principal green fruit, are 

 very fine for tarts. 



SELECT DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF APRICOTS. 



Breda, Ahricot de Hollande., Amande Aveline, Royal Per- 

 sian. Fruit medium size, of a round form, and deep yellow 

 color ; the pulp is soft and juicy ; the tree is a great bearer, 



