How to Prune the Apple. 



267 



At the winter pruning, they should be shortened to within 



nine inches or a foot of 

 their bases, particularly- 

 observing to cut above 

 two buds pointing out- 

 wards in the direction 

 which it would be de- 

 sirable the shoots pro- 

 ceeding from them should 

 take. Six limbs will be 

 thus originated. Again 

 a little attention in sum- 

 mer will insure an equal 

 divergence of the shoots 

 from the perpendicular; 

 and equal distances from 

 each other. Meanwhile, 

 a gradual divestment of 

 the temporary shoots on 

 the stem is presumed 

 to have annually taken 

 place, as above recom- 

 mended. The scars re- 

 sulting from the suppres- 

 sion of those on the 

 lower part of the stem 

 will have nearly, or quite 

 healed over ; for this pro- 

 cess will be greatly ac- 

 celerated by the action 

 of leaves on shoots left 

 above. It may be observ- 

 ed, that after all these tem- 

 porary shoots are removed 

 from the stem, their bene- 

 ficial eifects continue ; for 

 the roots formed by their 

 agency still remain to 

 contribute to the future 



Fig. 13. Jlie Apple Tree. 



aaaaaa, blossom buds ; bbbbb, wood buds ; 

 c c, scars where fruit was attached last season. 



growth of the tree. 



