170 



pinching that trees, when in their nursery beds, are given the shape 

 which it is meant they should assume before they are sent out to 

 customers to be planted. 



Pinching is often practised in the summer for promoting the 

 formation of fruit buds. The illustration on page 147 shows where 

 to pinch the tender shoot. 



In pinching back side shoots, intended to carry fruit buds, 

 care must be taken not to shorten them too severely ; it is not too 

 much too allow them three or four inches. If pinched too short, 

 the little butt or shoot either ceases to grow and dies, leaving a 

 vacant space on the branch, or else, a year or two after this 

 excessive pinching, two small basal buds push forth on each side of 

 the suppressed shoot; these will ultimately blossom, but this will 

 involve the loss of another season or two, or again premature shoots 

 will grow, which will likewise be a longer time setting to fruit, and 

 are not likely to be so fruitful as better constituted snoots properly 

 pinched would be, as already referred to and illustrated under 

 Pruning. 



When pinching back, and especially where the tree is full of 

 running sap and of vigour, the shoots, instead of being cut or nipped 

 clean off, are half broken through, and the terminal end left hang- 

 ing. In this way the tension of the sap is partly diverted to half 

 nourish the broken part, and the pressure is not strong enough to 

 stimulate the growth of side shoots on that half -broken spur. At 

 winter pruning that spur will present the appearance shown on the 

 figure, the hanging piece will be excised, and the spur below will be 

 stocked with fruit-bearing buds. These, after they have perfected 

 their internal organs a process which, according to sorts of fruit 

 trees, takes from one to three years to accomplish will, in due 

 course, blossom and carry fruit. 



DISBUDDING 



consists in rubbing off with the thumb any misplaced buds or tender 

 shoot. 



Pinching and disbudding are the most rational methods of 

 gradually directing the growth of trees and vines, thus avoiding, at 

 the time of winter pruning, the severe cutting of much unnecessary 

 wood, on which some of the plant's best energy may have been 

 spent during the growing months. 



Indeed, if literally carried out, there would be little winter 

 pruning left to be done, except shortening the leading branches of 

 young trees. However, if pinching and disbudding can be made to 

 answer a useful purpose, the beginner should guard against too 

 rigidly carrying it out under every circumstance, as it often happens 

 that a better root growth, and much useful shelter in the summer 

 months against the ardent rays of the sun, are obtained by not too 

 strictly following the rules of pinching and disbudding. 



