218 TREATMENT OF THE 



assistance from it, and the strength of the 

 tree is thereby prevented from being uselessly 

 employed, which would be the case if the 

 shoot was allowed to proceed undisturbed. 



Fourth Year. Winter Pruning. The short- 

 ening of all fruitful shoots must be performed 

 agreeably to the instructions given last year; 

 also as many must be retained as will furnish 

 the tree at three inches apart. The shoots, 

 as Fig. 4. a, which were last summer stopped 

 at four or five inches in length, must now be 

 pruned away, and all that part of the two 

 year's old wood with it as far as to the shoot 

 which is retained, as b. But if there be a 

 want of wood in any part, such a shoot as a, 

 must be kept, as g. All the natural fruit 

 spurs upon the two or three year old wood 

 of those lateral branches trained in, must be 

 preserved, as c, c. 



Fig. 4. 



Summer Pruning. This must be attended 

 to by hand dressing and nailing in, or short- 

 ening any shoots as before directed. 



