THE APRICOT. 



43 



Winter Pruning. This requires considerable judg- 

 ment. In the first place, a judicious thinning out of the 

 older growths should be done. First of all, cut away 

 all weak or exhausted wood ; then remove the two- 

 year-old wood to the base of the young growths, so as 

 to give the latter more room, as it is essential that the 

 shoots laid in during the summer should not be over- 



Fig. 14. APRICOT SHOOTS. 



The left-hand shoot is freely furnished with fruit buds, while 

 the right-hand one has wood buds only. 



crowded. The terminal shoots of branches, too, may 

 often be removed with advantage to the nearest young 

 growth, in order to keep the tree compact. Besides, this 

 thinning out of older growths encourages the tree to put 

 forth a succession of new shoots annually, and the tree 

 is consequently kept in a healthier bearing condition. The 

 shoots that were laid during summer must next be short- 

 ened. Those two or more feet long shorten one-fourth ; 

 those only a foot long cut back half way. The spurs, 



