210 SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



Training the Tree — Two plans or methods of 

 training commonly practiced are the tree form and the 

 "fan" espalier form, the latter being most in use. Much 

 skill may be exercised in this work, and many modified 

 forms of these two methods produced to adjust the trees 

 to surrounding conditions. Each season the new shoots 

 are to be cut back more or less to insure a moderate 

 number of blossoms and enough shoots to renew the 

 fruit bearing wood for the next season. No surplus 

 wood should be allowed to grow, the whole force of the 

 tree to be directed to the production of the fruit and 

 the renewal shoots. During the summer all shoots not 

 needed to carry out the plan of training should be cut 

 off as soon as they appear. 



Thinning the Fruit — To produce fruit of the best 

 size, quality and color, but a limited quantity should 

 be allowed to grow on a given space of wood. Eeducing 

 the number of. specimens to one-fourth or even more 

 will often not reduce the measured quantity of fruit 

 ripened, while the number of seeds or kernels being 

 largely reduced, the strain on the tree is not as great, 

 and it will often make a much larger growth, and be 

 in better condition for next year's crop. No rule can 

 be given as to the number of specimens to be left or 

 the distance apart on the branches; each grower must 

 "use his judgment," but it is best to err on the safe 

 side by thinning , liberally, if the future good of the 

 trees is to be considered. On a well branched, vig- 

 orous tree, four inches apart would give a large number 

 of fruits, while if the tree is weak six inches would be 

 a better distance. 



Varieties — Among those recommended by success- 

 ful growers are the following: Peaches — Eoyal George, 

 Golden Eagle, Goshawk. Nectarines — Cardinal, Lord 

 Napier, Darwin, Victoria. 



Trees in Pots — When one has limited glass space 



