62 



object should always be to spread the tree. It is, therefore, ad- 

 visable to retain the outward shoot, shortening it in to one-third 

 its original length. Never retain the whole of the long perpendi- 

 cular growth on each branch, but it is quite allowable to retain 

 two such growths on one limb should they be well spread apart 

 and if number two tends to fill a space in the general symmetry 

 of the head. Should any laterals be thrown out they must not 

 be cut away, but shortened-in to a third of their length. These 

 laterals, which will later carry the majority of the crop, must be 

 carefully tended to keep them in a healthy condition. The year 

 after they are first thrown out and the shortening-in just des- 

 cribed has been done they will form fruit-buds on the majority 

 of their length and also throw out short growths from their ter- 

 minal buds, which should be shortened-in, and so treated in 

 successive seasons. One's whole object in spreading the founda- 

 tion of the tree is to give these laterals the space to grow, and 

 to allow them air and light in order to ripen their buds and mature 

 their fruit. Shortening-in all the perpendicular growth, and 

 cutting away none, is a most fatal course to pursue; infinitely 

 rather do nothing at all, as every year a cutting is done brings 

 the following season a duplex and triple growth, resulting in a 

 thick-set growth of unripened, sappy wood, which could never 

 carry fruit, except perhaps a little on the outside. It is absolu- 

 tely necessary that the laterals get sun and light. Should this 

 course of cutting-back and thinning-out be followed for four or 

 five years, when the tree is in bearing, little or no pruning will be 

 required, as the weight of the crop will always tend to spread the 

 tree, giving the limbs more room. No ! The plum requires little 

 pruning when once in bearing, a shortening-in or thinning-out of 

 laterals which may intersect only. 



1900. We have no comment to make on our recommendation 

 of 1896 as to the pruning of the plum ; we still think that if our 

 directions are carried out a good tree will result. However, there 

 is one feature in plum-growing in this country which needs some 

 notice. We have given this a separate article, which you will 

 find under the heading: " Improper Starting into Spring Growth 

 of Domestic Plums and other Fruit Trees." 



DYNAMITE IN THE ORCHARD. 



By J. W. Jones, Cape Explosives Works Ltd. 



One of the most important developments of recent years in 

 connection with South African agriculture is the use of explosives 

 for farming purposes. 



