PRUNING. 245 



One of the means employed is by reducing the num- 

 ber of the buds ; that is, at pruning- time, to cut out 

 two-thirds of them. Calling the topmost bud one, 

 cut out two and three, leave number four, cut out 

 rive and six, leaving seven, &c., all the way to the 

 bottom. This disposition of the buds will be found 

 alternating with each other very regularly, as well 

 in position as distances ; and though the number 

 of bunches be reduced, the weight of the crop is not 

 so ; because the buds that remain come forth with 

 increased strength, and yield larger bunches of fruit. 

 Indeed, for a tree trained on such a limited scale, one 

 third of the usual number of buds is as many as the 

 plant should be allowed to bring to perfection *. 

 Even in this method of equalising the development 

 of the buds, the upper ones will precede the lower ; 

 but the former being stopped immediately beyond the 

 fruit, or removed entirely if barren, causes the lower 

 to burst in succession downwards. 



Another expedient to induce every eye upon a 

 long shoot to burst at the same time, is by bending it 

 into a zig-zag direction, or serpentine position on the 



* That the strength of fruit-trees is exhaustible by heavy crops 

 is well known ; two very plentiful ones very seldom following each 

 other. No tree, therefore, that is within convenient reach, should 

 be allowed to overweaken itself in any one year, more especially 

 very young trees in houses. The increased size and excellence of a 

 moderate number, which at the same time does not enfeeble the 

 tree, is always preferable to great numbers of inferior size and 

 quality* 



