How to Prune the Apple. 269 



three at six inches above the surface of the ground, thus 

 leaving six inches of clear stem. It may be here observed, 

 that the uppermost bud should point to the north ; for then 

 the next will point to the east, and the lowest to the west, 

 thus leaving the widest space open to the south, which is 

 of advantage, because the sun's rays are not obstructed ; be- 

 sides, the branches naturally incline to grow more towards 

 the south than elsewhere, all other circumstances being the 

 same. 



The shoots, many chances to one, will not diverge in the 

 right direction, and, therefore, training becomes necessary. 

 Some prefer training the branches almost horizontally at first, 

 and then nearly upright. Others as nearly as possible in direct 

 lines at an angle of 4-5°, or half way between the perpen- 

 dicular and horizontal directions. It would be an easy mat- 

 ter to train the three first shoots strictly at the above angle 

 as they progressed during the summer ; but it must be 

 recollected that before much fruit can be expected, the tree 

 must have formed a considerable quantity of wood ; and one 

 thing is certain, that the more its natural growth is interfered 

 with, especially when young, the less wood it will form in a 

 given time. Yet these shoots, even in their early stage, must 

 not be left entirely wild and free ; for it usually happens, 

 that one of them pushes with greater vigor than the rest, and 

 that one should be a little checked by bending it from the 

 perpendicular early in the season ; and so should the next 

 strongest, but in a less degree, and thus the weakest left to 

 its freedom will have a better chance of ranking fairly with 

 its neighbors. When the shoots have made their principal 

 growth for the season, but before vegetation becomes inactive, 

 they should be brought into the position which they are in- 

 tended finally to occupy, as least as far as six inches from 

 their bases ; beyond this it is immaterial, for to that distance 

 the shoots must be cut back in autumn. A piece of matting 

 will be sufficient to secure them in an equidistant position 

 from each other laterally, leaving, however, a somewhat 

 wider interval on the south side. 



The three primary shoots, cut back to six inches from 



