JAN.] PRUNING WALL-TREES. 189 



regulate their spurs, if much clustered, and to prune 

 away the superfluous breast shoots made in sum- 

 mer, if this have not already been done. 



Most kinds of pears make longer spurs than 

 apples do, and they are also apt to grow more clus- 

 tered, particularly in old trees. These should there- 

 fore be carefully thinned out ; cutting away all the 

 fore-right stubs, on which there are none but wood- 

 buds ; retaining the fruit-buds only, more especial- 

 ly such as lie nearest to the wall. 



Apples often show fruit-buds on the bottom part 

 of the breast-shoots shortened in summer; in which 

 case, if the tree be thin of fruit-spurs, they are to 

 be retained, the better to ensure a crop. 



Some kinds of pears also produce fruit-buds in 

 this manner, particularly in good seasons, and, of 

 course, under similar circumstances, they ought to 

 be retained ; but otherwise, let them be cut clean 

 off, that a profusion of useless breast-shoots may be 

 prevented from rising next summer. 



Trees that are still in training, and have not yet 

 filled their spaces, require a different treatment. 

 Their principal and leading shoots require to b& 

 shortened, in order to make, them put out others to 

 fill the wall or rail. This shortening must be in 

 proportion to the strength of the shoots ; that is, 

 strong shoots may be shortened one-third of their 

 lengths ; weak shoots, one-half, or two-thirds ; and 

 very weak ones should be cut in to the second or 

 third bud. This chastisement will cause them to 

 put out plenty of branches in spring ; out of which 

 a necessary number may be retained, whereof to 



