70 



FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



are small. Still, assuming such bushes do exist in gardens, 

 the pruning should consist of the removal of all suckers 

 that grow at the base of the bush, and the thinning out 

 of branches that crowd the centre. Do this early in 

 winter. 



Further pruning consists of shortening the lateral shoots 

 of the previous year's growth as soon as the tiny crimson 



JtQWffNt GROWTH IS CffCOV RACED 



Fig-. 21. GROWTH OF COBNUTS. 



Showing: the kind of shoots which it is essential to obtain to ensure a 

 g-ood crop of nuts. 



female flowers can be seen close to the latter. In some 

 cases a female flower will form at the apex of a short 

 sturdy shoot, in which event no shortening should be 

 done. This operation must not be done until the female 

 blooms are fully opened in February or March. Such 

 laterals as are bearing male flowers may be shortened to 

 the first tassel, as soon as it is well formed. Later, when 

 the female flowers have been fertilised, and embryo nuts 



