44 FRUIT FARMING 



from the ground. From the central portion of the 

 main boughs a number of strong yearling shoots will 

 be given off, which in Kent are called " wands." 

 These are taken out in September, or partially so, for 

 packing the autumn fruit, and in winter the rest are 

 broken out, and either sold for flower sticks or basket 

 making, or reserved to pack soft fruit the next season. 

 The male or catkin blossoms are produced in February 

 and March most freely at the upper part of the trees, 

 and should be allowed to remain long enough before 

 pruning to fertilize the minute red pistillate or female 

 flowers, which are produced on the smaller boughs ; 

 should the weather be very still and warm it would 

 pay to tap the boughs with a stick, to make the 

 pollen fly. In the winter pruning, the spurs are 

 thinned; old wood is removed and the stronger growths 

 shortened and thinned, leaving the trees regularly 

 balanced on all sides, and with free play for the air 

 and sun among the branches, remembering that the 

 foliage is large on pruned trees. If time permits 

 in July and August, it is a great help to the strength 

 of the tree to break the stronger shoots off the upper 

 boughs with the finger and thumb (a sharp twist 

 being all that is required), this plumps up the buds 

 below the fracture, assists in ripening up the wood ; 

 this is found better than cutting, as the broken 

 surface allows some sap to exude, which prevents the 

 formation of a secondary growth, which would weaken 

 the bush and be of no value to produce nuts. In 

 winter pruning these broken ends are smoothly severed 

 with a sharp knife. A careful pruner will proceed so 

 that there is always abundance of fresh young wood 

 in his Cobs, and when a twig shows signs of age, he 



