18 



Bush-Fruits 



different from that of the brambles, since the branches 

 live from year to year. Yet a somewhat similar principle 

 of renewing the fruiting wood may be followed with ad- 

 vantage. Young wood bears the finest and largest fruit. 

 Hence it is better to cut out the older wood from year to 

 year, allowing the younger shoots to take its place. This 

 is better than cutting off the ends of the shoots, for that 

 induces additional branching, with a dense top-heavy 

 growth. 



Different implements are used for cutting out the old 

 wood. For currants and gooseberries, long-handled 

 pruning-shears are probably best. For brambles, when the 



canes are still green, a bush- 

 scythe, corn-cutter or some 

 form of hooked knife in a long 

 handle is more convenient. A 

 good tool of this kind can be 

 made from a flat file, bent and 

 flattened, then driven into a 

 shovel or manure-fork handle, 

 as shown in Fig. 2. The heel of 

 an old scythe can be used for a 

 similar purpose. A spud simi- 



Fig. 2. Fig. 3. lar to that shown in Fig. 3 is 



Pruning-hook. Pruning-spud. som etimes useful in cutting out 

 young canes or in cutting off young suckers. It may also 

 be used in putting down tips of black raspberries. 



A special rake for gathering up the prunings has been 

 recommended by some growers. It consists of a head- 

 piece of 4 x 4 timber, about 5 feet long. Into this are 

 fastened seven teeth of %-inch round iron, 18 inches 



