266 How to Prune the Apple. 



height above-mentioned, and be like a slender, flexible rod, 

 almost of miiform thickness, which would instantly bend to 

 the ground on being deprived of its support. It must be 

 considered a work of misapplied art ; for naturally the plant 

 would have put forth side-shoots and leaves as it advanced ; 

 and these leaves would have contributed to the formation of 

 layers of Avood, increasing the thickness of the base ; thus 

 the stem would have become an elongated cone, a form 

 adapted for self-support. 



From what has been stated it is obvious that the necessity 

 for stakes is owing to the improper management of the plant 

 whilst the stem is being reared ; and this again from the 

 erroneous idea that a sufficiently clean stem cannot be pro- 

 duced unless it be stripped of leaves, twigs, in short of every- 

 thing but the bark. Every leaf which appears along the 

 young stem should be encouraged. If any strong shoot break 

 out let it be checked ; but all other laterals should be allowed 

 to go on at least to the end of July, when they may be 

 stopped by pinching off their points. In the following au- 

 tumn cut them off closely from the lower portion of the 

 stem, and shorten the rest back to one eye. In the following 

 season these eyes will push fresh shoots ] treat them like 

 their predecessors in summer, and clear an additional portion 

 of the stem below, in autumn, by closely cutting the laterals 

 which may have pushed therefrom. By this mode of pro- 

 cedure self-supporting stems can be generally insured. 



The formation of the top must now be considered. The 

 height of clear stem being determined, the upright leader, 

 exceeding that height in summer by several inches, must be 

 shortened back at the ensuing winter pruning, so that the 

 lowest of three buds immediately below the section shall 

 correspond with the intended height of stem. These three 

 buds will give rise to three shoots, which should be encour- 

 aged for the commencement of the branches of the tree. 



Each of them, as they proceed in growth, should be made 

 to diverge at an angle of about 45°, or half way between the 

 horizontal and perpendicular directions ; and, at the same 

 time, the shoots should be kept equidistant from each other. 



