PLUMS. 473 



number cannot be selected to form the head, the best 

 must be selected and cut down again as before, which, 

 if the tree be in a state of health, must furnish abundance 

 for the purpose. The best of those being selected, they 

 must be allowed to grow at their full length, without 

 ever shortening them again, unless through some acci- 

 dent there should be a vacancy in the head which re- 

 quires to be filled up. 



Standards, when thus fully established, require nothing 

 further than to be looked over from time to time, in 

 order to remove any superfluous shoots, or such others 

 as may, by their further growth, be likely to injure 

 others. 



Espaliers. 



Espalier Plums are to be formed precisely upon the 

 same principle as espalier Pears, having a central up- 

 right stem with horizontal branches issuing from each 

 side ; these should be trained at nine inches apart, ex- 

 cept in such sorts as are of a very slender wiry growth, 

 in which they may be somewhat nearer. 



The branches of Plums require to be continued at 

 length, without ever shortening the leading shoot, and 

 their spurs should be managed as directed for Pears, ex- 

 cept in the first pruning in the summer, when the fore- 

 right and side shoots must be shortened to one inch 

 instead of two, as they are not so likely to throw out 

 additional shoots from these artificial spurs in the same 

 season* 



Some of the strongest, however, of these spurs will be 

 likely to make a second shoot, which must, in the second 

 pruning, be cut off below the eye whence it originated ; 

 never shortening a second shoot like the first, as a repe- 

 tition of this alone causes the spurs, in every description 

 of espalier and wall tree, to be what are termed bush- 

 headed, instead of having any tendency to acquire a 



