150 



in all probability not be much fruit the next year, whilst the tree 

 will be forced into fresh wood growth. 



Method, of pruning an old fruit spur. Du BKEUIL. 



PRUNING THE QUINCE. 



No fruit tree is more neglected than the quince, which is 

 hardly ever pruned. Its natural habit of growth is that of I a 

 confused and scattered bush ; by proper training, however, it can 

 be made more shapely and more productive. A stout and straight 

 trunk should be secured by cutting off all the other stems and 

 keeping it tied up to a stake to prevent it from straggling. This is 

 cut back the second year at a height of 12 inches from the ground, 

 and treated in the manner described when dealing with the training 

 and shaping of young trees. 



The bearing branches of the quince are small twigs produced 

 on wood at least two years old ; these produce besides short shoots, 

 on the point of which the fruit is borne singly. At pruning these 

 bearing branches are shortened back and produce new fruit spurs. 



PRUNING STONE FRUITS. 



What has been said about the early training of deciduous trees 

 as low standard, applies to stone fruit as well as to pome fruit. 

 The subsequent management of the fruit spurs of stone fruits 

 differs, however, in several points from that of pome fruits. In the 

 former, the fruit spurs require two to three years for their growth, 

 but when formed they last, with proper attention, for a long period. 

 In stone fruit the fruit spurs are of much quicker formation, and in 

 the peach and nectarine, notably, they blossom the spring following 

 their first appearance on the previous season's growth. 



PRUNING THE PEACH AND THE NECTARINE. 



The peach and the nectarine, like the apricot and the plum r 

 are profuse bearers, often inclined to over-bear, and are in con- 



