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of the best shoots, placed symmetrically round the stem, are allowed 

 to grow, all superfluous vegetation being rubbed off. These three 

 or four shoots, which will form the main limbs of the tree, should be 

 placed in such a manner that they form a well balanced head, and do 

 not all come out in a bunch together, but spring out of the stem with 

 an interval of an inch or two between them. This knits them better 

 to the trunk, and they are thus less liable to split, as they sometimes 

 do in windy weather, when grown in forks and laden with fruit. 

 The apricot more especially, with buds very close together, has a 

 tendency to grow its limbs all in a bunch. 



Three limbs growing symmetrically round the stem are better 

 than four. During the first season, these three or four shoots are 

 left to grow without interference, so as to favour as good a root 

 system as possible. Should one of the rods, however, grow with 

 such exuberant vigour that it draws all the sap for its own use, to 

 the detriment of the other two or three, it would be advisable to 

 pinch it off and check it, so as to maintain a fairly equal growth 

 of the head. A tree is very easily thrown off its balance 

 at this stage of its growth, and unless properly trained and 

 watched it might be difficult subsequently to re-establish the 

 harmony of growth between the main branches that constitute the 

 head. 



SECOND PRUNING. 



During the summer following the first pruning, the young tree 

 should be allowed to grow unchecked, so as to ensure a good root 

 development. Some young trees, however, at 

 times persist in sending up one solitary shoot. 

 Should this be the case, the tender growth is 

 pinched back when it has reached a length of 

 five or six inches, and this will excite the bud 

 immediately underneath into life, with the 

 result that the three or four limbs required to 

 form a well balanced head will be secured. 



The reverse at other times happens, the 

 young trees sending up a bunch of shoots, or 

 such vigorous and luxuriant shoots that there is 

 danger of the stems splitting. To guard a gainst 

 this, it is in such case also, although for a 

 different purpose, advisable to take in the sails, 

 and relieve the plant of any excess of shoots, or 

 of its threatening top weight. 



During the first winter following the plant- 

 ing of a yearling tree, the three shoots, or may 

 be the four which constitute its head, are 

 shortened to four to ten inches, according as to 

 whether these shoots are feeble, or strong and vigorous. Fruit- 

 growers often get their trees from the nursery at this stage of their 



Pruning of a two year 

 old tree from the biid. 

 Barry. 



