56 



Plums and Prunes. Domestic, in the 5th year. 

 Japanese, in the 2nd year. 

 Cherries, in the 6th year. 



THE PRUNING OF YOUNG DECIDUOUS TREES THE YEAR 

 AFTER PLANTING. 



One can treat of all varieties here under a single head, as. 

 the object now in view is solely to lay the foundation of the tree,, 

 and whether the fruit will be carried on the old wood, or on the 

 growth of the last summer is a matter which one has not to take 

 into consideration until next year. This pruning is, therefore, 

 the most simple of actual cutting operations, but at the same time 

 such cutting makes or mars the future tree. 



The object in view is to spread the tree, and lay an open 

 foundation. Should the three or four shoots, which we have said 

 must be retained, be in their right places, all one has to do is to 

 cut them back to a third or a quarter of their length, in every 

 case cutting to an outside bud should the limb be growing too 

 upright, and to an inside bud should it have a too spreading ten- 

 dency. Bear in mind that the shoots leaving the stem at an 

 obtuse angle are much to be preferred to those forced out at a 

 very acute angle, as when the tree is large, carrying a heavy crop 

 of fruit, there is great danger of an acute angle limb breaking 

 clean off from the main stem, disfiguring the tree for life, and 

 also lessening its bearing capacity. The obtuse angled shoots 

 will often be found to take an upward turn, about nine inches 

 from the main stem. Here is a good place to have them off. 

 cutting to an outer bud ; but should this upward tendency begin 

 too far from the main stem, cut it short of it and to an inner bud. 

 Let us now take an opposite extreme ; a tree which has only forced 

 out one shoot. If this be a perpendicular one and near the top 

 of the stem, cut it down within six inches of its base, and make 

 your foundation the following year from the shoots formed from 

 the buds on this short six inches. We may add that this throw- 

 ing out of one shoot only is very seldom seen on a properly- 

 grown and carefully-handled nursery stock, and it is a matter 

 which should always claim the attention of the intelligent buyer. 

 Should the shoots retained be not as well distributed round the 

 stem as could be wished, they can now be spread by the insertion 

 of a small wedge, sharpened at both ends, and made of a pre- 

 viously-cut-off shoot. A small notch must be cut in the side of 

 the two shoots to be spread at the point best calculated to bring 

 them to their enquired individual positions. The wedge can then 



