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to favour the growth of side shoots, which are shortened to prevent 

 the whole nourishment being carried to the top of the branch, the 

 consequence being that small shoots grow from their base, which 

 carry fruit. By this method of spurring, bearing shoots are 

 produced, which would otherwise have remained dormant. 



PRUNING THE WALNUT AND CHESTNUT. 



Much of what is said about the pruning of the fig applies to 

 these trees. Their habit of growth is symmetrical, and the growers 

 will, by cutting off misplaced branches, broken or dead, and by 

 shortening bending limbs, do much to keep them growing symmet- 

 rically. As their feeding roots are close to the surface, light hoeing 

 only should be done in close proximity to the trees. They should 

 be trained with a general upright tendency, so as to interfere as 

 little as possible with cultivation. Limbs branching low down will 

 protect the stem from sunburn. 



PRUNING THE LOQUAT. 



The loquat, or Japanese medlar, has hitherto been raised from 

 the seed as a tree suitable for wind breaks. The choicer varieties 

 are, however, now propagated by grafting or by budding, either 011 

 its own roots or on the quince, to which it is botanically somewhat 

 related. In the first instance it forms large trees, which take four 

 or five years to mature its fruit. In the second instance it conies 

 into bearing at an earlier age. When grown for shelter the higher 

 trees worked on loquat seedlings should be selected and trained with 

 a stem three or four feet high. In the second case, whether it is on 

 its own or on quince roots, it should be headed lower down. As the 

 tree carries permanent foliage, and later on heavy crops of fruit, 

 the main limbs should be as strong and sturdy as possible, and 

 trained with a generally upright direction. These hi course of time, 

 as the branches extend and carry more foliage and more fruit, will 

 gradually be bent down, hence the importance of throwing strength 

 and vigour into them at an early stage. This is done by encouraging 

 the growth of three or four leaders, low down on the stem (if not 

 grown as a wind break) ; all other shoots are either cut off or 

 pinched back, and the young tree is subsequently shaped much in 

 the same manner as has been explained in connection with the 

 shaping and framing of young trees generally. The fruit bunches 

 issue from the terminal point of young shoots. They bear at their 

 base wood buds, which will in growing season push out young 

 shoots. These, if too numerous, should be thinned out to two or 

 three only, so as to insure for each its due share of light, air and 

 sun. The decaying flower stalks are cut 'off, as well also as all dead 

 branches. 



PRUNING THE FIG. 



Fig trees naturally form symmetrical heads. They are best 

 shaped when young with the main arms arranged symmetrically 



