JAN.] PRUNING WALL-TREES. 191 



walls and espaliers ; though in the latter way they 

 are seldom planted, particularly apricots ; and cher- 

 ries and plums are found to do better as standards 

 or buzelars. I shall therefore consider these trees 

 as being trained in the former manner. 



The principal branches may be arranged at the 

 distance of eight or nine inches on a medium, ac- 

 cording to their strength ; taking as the extremes, 

 six and ten. Aged trees of all these kinds * are 

 apt to form their spurs in large clusters, which in 

 this case ought to be neatly thinned out ; chiefly 

 cutting away the parts farthest from the wall, and 

 retaining those placed nearest to it, that the fruit 

 produced on them may be benefited by its influence. 

 Spurs of apricots in particular, and some of the 

 finer sorts of plums., that are placed at a distance 

 from the wall, although they may blossom very 

 well, and even set their fruit, yet seldom ripen them ; 

 especially in a bad climate, or a bad season. 



If, therefore, the tree be in a healthy state, and if 

 there be an appearance of plenty fruit-buds on 

 the shoots and branches of last and the former year, 

 the extended spurs may be very much thinned away; 

 as the fruit produced on such shoots as can be laid 

 close to the wall, will be much superior, both as to 



* I might here except the More-Park apricot, and the 

 morella cherry, which bear chiefly on the young shoots of 

 last year, and on close buds or spurs, formed on the two 

 year old wood. These, particularly the latter, should be 

 trained much in the manner of Peaches, which see, farther 

 onwards. 



