Production of Fruit 



remained short and contracted and has 

 exchanged its leaves for flowering organs — 

 for sepals, petals, stamens and pistils. So 

 the usual process is to weaken the tree and 

 the shoots. 



In order to weaken the shoots the branches 

 which are to grow long will be only slightly 

 pruned. The numerous shoots will each 

 receive a smaller amount of sap, and some of 

 them, especially at the base of the branches, 

 will be too weak to carry on the struggle and 

 will turn to flower buds, although they would 

 have grown into wood if their rivals had been 

 removed. 



In order to diminish the vigour of the tree 

 the herbaceous extremity of the young 

 branches is pinched off or nipped with the 

 nail ; or sometimes these branches are twisted 

 into a curve which impedes the circulation of 

 the sap. Another method is to break off the 

 woody branches of the preceding year, either 

 partly or altogether, leaving the ends hang- 

 ing. If the tree is not too vigorous, any 

 one of these methods will cause it to bear 

 fruit. 



If the growth is very strong more energetic 

 means will be required. The branches are all 

 bent down to the ground and fixed in that 



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