FRUIT TREES. Chap. IV. 



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doing from time to time until September are merely a sort of continuation or extension of 

 pinching off. They should be performed with the same care & conform to the same rules. 

 So without repeating myself further, I'll simply add that toward the end of July or the 

 beginning of August a new training needs to be done; that sometimes the tidiness of the 

 tree as much as its usefulness requires yet another one in September; that in general every 

 time a branch is noticed that's at risk if it's not supported, it should be trained; that every 

 branch that has acquired some solidity ought to be cut & not pinched off, lest it take with 

 it a large piece of the branch from which it originates; that it should be cut very closely & 

 gently so as not to disturb the nearby fruit; that the training determines the order, 

 position, & direction of the shoots, just as pinching off determines their number; that this 

 number ought to be such that the tree can situate & extend itself easily & can nourish 

 itself amply but not excessively; finally, in seeing to it that the fruit gets the benefit of the 

 air, that it should be kept partly shaded by leaves where transpiring less, it will grow- 

 larger & will be exposed to the sun's rays only shortly before being picked, as will be 

 discussed below. 



