166 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. , 



leaders only to grow unchecked. Standards, if growing 

 very vigorously, should have the points of their strong 

 leading growths pinched off at above period, but no sum- 

 mer pruning otherwise will be needed. (Fig. 62.) 



Winter Pruning. Plums do not require much winter 

 pruning if disbudding and summer pruning have been pro- 

 perly carried out. In the case of cordons, shorten the 

 laterals that were pinched back in summer to a couple of 

 buds from their base- Fan-trained trees will require 

 similar treatment as regards the summer-pruned laterals. 

 The leading shoots, unless it is desired to encourage new 

 laterals to develop, will not require shortening ; they are 

 best left their full length. If such shoots have to be cut 

 back, always see that they are cut back to a wood bud, 

 not to a fruit bud. Pyramids and bushes will require to 

 have their summer-pruned laterals shortened to two buds, 

 any weak or sickly branches cut out, and the ends of any 

 extra strong leaders shortened according as the contour 

 of the tree demands. Short and stubby leaders need not 

 be interfered with. Standards will only need to have 

 overcrowded branches thinned out and sickly ones re- 

 moved. After a few years the spurs become congested. 

 It is, therefore, a good plan to shorten the elongated ones, 

 and thin out the crowded ones moderately. Plums grown 

 on walls often fail to set their fruit properly owing to the 

 overcrowding of the spurs. Prune in December or 

 January. (Figs. 63 to 66.) 



Root Pruning. Cordons, wall trees, bushes, and small 

 bushes are greatly benefited by careful lifting, moderate 

 root-pruning, and replanting. Trees growing in rich soils 

 are very liable to grow too freely, and produce too little 

 fruit ; therefore, if such trees are lifted every third year 

 or so, and any extra vigorous roots moderately shortened, 

 they will be made fruitful. Indeed, this system is essen- 

 tial to ensure Plum trees bearing freely in the earlier 

 period of their existence. Let it be clearly borne in mind 

 that lifting and root-pruning are only beneficial in the case' 



