APRICOT TREE. 213 



generally be required about the first week in 

 June. In selecting shoots for this purpose, 

 retain those that grow most from the wall, 

 so that in their subsequent growth they 

 may not smother, or otherwise injure those 

 shoots that are trained in between the 

 branches, as a, a, a, a, a, c. In retaining shoots 

 to be trained in, always preserve for one that 

 which is nearest the origin of the branch 

 which it proceeds from, as c. After that a 

 proper choice of shoots has been made for 

 training in, also for forming spurs, let all 

 others be cut clean away. This regulation 

 of the young wood must take place when it 

 has pushed about four inches long. Those 

 shoots that are retained must be allowed to 

 grow in their natural direction, until the wood 

 has got a little hardness, which will be when 

 they have attained ten or twelve inches in 

 length, and then they must be trained in or 

 be cut down according to the foregoing in- 

 structions. 



Third Year. Winter Pruning. Many of 

 those shoots which were trained in between 

 the branches during the last summer, will 

 generally now be furnished with blossom 

 buds, such buds are very distinguishable 

 from the growing buds, being plump and 

 round, also of a lighter colour, whilst the 

 growing ones are small, narrow, and quite 

 pointed, as well as of a darker colour. 

 All shoots that are thus supplied with bloom 



