^6 • OF PLUMS. 



begin with shortening every other shoot, leaving 

 them only from six inches to a foot long, and nail 

 them in till the second year, taking care to rub 

 off the superfluous and strong foreright shoots ; 

 by that time they will begin to bear ; then cut 

 out the others that have done bearing : by this 

 method you will keep the trees in a flourishing 

 state. When the branches are thus managed, 

 they will frequently throw out small dugs, or 

 foreright shoots, about an inch or two long, which 

 will flower next year. They should never be 

 shortened till after the fruit is set and become 

 about the size of a large pea ; by that time the 

 leaves will have covered the fruit, and be able to 

 protect it from the inclemency of the weather. 

 You may now shorten these shoots close to the 

 fruit, which will leave them from one to two 

 inches long. This method I have practised with 

 great success for several years. By leaving these 

 short foreright shoots, the fruit is protected till 

 it is out of danger of being killed by the frost, or 

 stunted by the cold North and North-west winds 

 that happen about the latter end of March and 

 beginning of April. The cold chilling rain and 

 f?now, which are also very injurious to the fruit, 

 will be thrown off by the branches standing out 

 from tlie trees. I by no means like to see great 

 spurs standing out from the wall ; for they are 

 always sure to be injured by the frost and cold 

 winds. J^See Plate II. ^g. S. and 3.] When the 

 shoots are kft naked, I have often seen the plums 



