184 Training and Pruning of Fruit Trees. 



the tree cannot be admitted. It should be borne in mind, that 

 the disposition to form an elevated naked stem is still strongly 

 evinced in dwarf trees ; although subdivided, yet each branch 

 possesses its share of the original disposition, and its lower and 

 horizontal shoots are apt to become weak in comparison with the 

 upper and those that are vertical. 



A standard tree, from its being least restrained from attaining 

 its natural habit, requires least management in regard to training, 

 as has been already explained. When trained in any dwarf 

 form, attention is in the first place required towards counter- 

 acting the disposition to form one large elevated stem, by 

 stopping the leading shoot. In this and other processes in 

 pruning and training, it is necessary to be aware of the nature 

 of the buds on different parts of the shoot, and the effect of 

 cutting near or at a distance from the base. When a shoot is 

 shortened, the remaining buds are stimulated, and those imme- 

 diately below the section seldom fail to produce shoots, even 

 although they would have otherwise remained dormant. The 

 lowest buds on the base of a shoot do not generally become 

 developed unless the shoot is cut or broken above them. They 

 remain endowed with all their innate vital power, although 

 comparatively in a state of repose : but, should the shoot on the 

 base of which these buds are situated be destroyed or amputated, 

 very soon they are called into vigorous action, producing sup- 

 plementary shoots much stronger than could be obtained from 

 any other buds more remote from the base. Were these buds 

 as prone to developement as others, a mass of shoots and foliage 

 would be produced in the central parts, where the foliage could 

 not have a due share of light, an arrangement that would prove 

 bad. They must be looked upon as in reserve for furnishing 

 wood-shoots, whenever the pruner chooses to stimulate their 

 developement by amputating the portion of shoot above them. 



From this view of the properties belonging to the lowest si- 

 tuated buds, it is evident they are the most unlikely to become 

 fruit-buds. These are formed towards the extremities. In 

 some cases they are terminal ; but generally about two thirds 

 from the base is the situation where fruit-buds are first formed, 

 and in some kinds of fruit-trees are developed into blossom the 

 following season, and in others the basis of a spur is established. 

 This spur sometimes continues slowly to elongate for years 

 before it produces fruit. As the strongest shoots are obtained 

 from buds near the bases of shoots, and as all horizontally 

 trained branches grow weak compared with those that have a 

 more vertical position, it follows, that all horizontal branches, 

 and those approaching that direction, should be obtained, as far 

 as circumstances will permit, from buds situated near the base. 



