53 



\Ye have seen nothing in this country to lead us to advise 

 planters to be non-pruners. In fact, the result of our observations 

 lead us to believe that this is pre-eminently a country in which 

 the correct, or otherwise, pruning of an orchard will be an impor- 

 tant factor in its ultimate success or failure. The "' Low head " 

 system of pruning is the one, we are convinced, is the best for 

 here. 



Firstly : being a country of hot suns, this style best shelters 

 the stem, and keeps the coil around the tree cool. 



Secondly : Take the undoubted advantages derived from 

 picking the majority of the fruit from near the ground. 



Thirdly: The minimum of danger to which such trees are 

 exposed from the force of the strong and gusty winds, which are 

 the orchardist's bete noir in nlany parts of this country. 



Fourthly : The firm and solid foundation one is able to give 

 a tree grown on these lines are important points in a climate like 

 ours, where trees carry, very often, maximum crops. 



The well-spread foundation thus gained is most important in 

 other ways; it enables the laterals thrown out from the main 

 limbs (of which latter, by-the-bye, take care there are not too 

 many) plenty of room to be annually or when necessary shortened 

 in, and in turn throw out other side shoots, which will bear fruit 

 over a number of years ; and being carried near the main limbs, 

 will be practically safe from the winds, and the flow of sap there, 

 i.e., in the main limbs, being strong, the fruit will be of good 

 size and quality. 



We have treated at some length this important matter of 

 foundation-laying in another paragraph. 



The conditions under which orcharding is being practised in 

 South Africa are very diverse, and the details of successful 

 pruning will undoubtedly differ ; some districts will require more 

 bearing wood being retained, others less ; these details must be 

 left to the judgment of the individual pruner. This is no rule- 

 of-thumb job, but brains must be used in guiding a knife, or pair 

 of priming shears, as the case may be ; the object in view always 

 being a continuous succession of crops of good quality fruit, 

 covering the greatest possible number of years from a given tree. 



All dead and diseased wood, not forgetting dead fruit spurs, 

 should invariably be removed at each season's pruning. 



Also all cuts, except the cuts on the thin laterals and spurs, 

 should be painted over : any material will do, waste or good paint, 

 tar. grafting wax, shellac, or in fact any material that will exclude 

 atmospheric influences. 



In implements try the best, i.e., most expensive shears you 

 can get. Swiss makes and shapes are the best, and they should 

 be supplied with a spare blade ; a pair of such shears will last 

 years. 



