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absorbed most of the sap and dried up the twig, while the wood 

 buds at the base fail to grow, leaving a barren, useless stick. 



By proper pruning, however, or shortening in, one-half or so 

 of last year's growth, outside as well as in the interior, the lower parts 

 of some twigs are cut back to one or two basal buds and the other 

 twigs only slightly trimmed, the shorter ones being left untouched ; 

 still there may be too much bearing wood for the tree to carry 

 and bring to full size and perfection, unless thinned out; the 

 flow of sap is fully utilised by what is left of the young wood ; 

 the leaf buds at the base produce vigorous young shoots, which 

 will keep the tree well supplied with bearing wood for the next 

 season ; the foliage will be more luxuriant, the fruit larger and 

 more luscious. At the same time that the shoots are shortened 

 in, those that have already borne fruit are cut out. Whenever 

 practicable, leave for fruit the twig from the top bud of a two-eye 

 spur, and shorten in for wood to two eyes the twig from the lower 

 eye of that spur. 



A peach tree before pruning-. 



This method of pruning being carried out year after year, the 

 small wounds heal readily. Large limbs have not to be cut back 

 so often, thereby endangering the life of the plant, owing to the 



