155 



Thus the buds at B will develop but slightly, those at C, growing 

 about the middle, will grow two or three inches In length, while 

 those shoots at D will probably reach a couple of feet. These last, 



1. First year's pruning for forming fruit bud spurs. 2. Second year's pruning of fruit spurs. 

 3. Third year's prunning of fruit branches. 



with the exception of the terminal shoot, are cut bnck at the time 

 of pruning to a length of four to six inches. The terminal shoot 

 will thus extend and fruit buds will develop over the shoots left. 



A year or so after, the short spurs at B give birth to a few 

 flower buds, they have in the centre a wood bud which will slightly 

 extend their length. These spurs must not be cut. The larger 

 ones at C have flower buds in the middle and wood buds at the top 

 and must be cut back slightly, while those at D, which are more 

 vigorous, are shortened either bv cutting or by partial fracture (see 

 fig., p. 148). 



After another year and in subsequent seasons, the lengthened 

 spurs must be cut back a little, so as to diminish the number of the 

 blossoms and prevent the too great lengthening of the shoots. The 

 same is done year after year, and when the fruiting shoots cease to 

 bear they are cut back slightly, in order to develop new replacing 

 branches towards the base. 



Some growers only shorten plums and prunes once in every 

 two or three years, after coming into bearing. This practice holds 

 as well with pears, but will not do with peaches, apricots, and 

 Japanese plums, which require similar pruning to peaches. 



