•21 



In the foiirtli pruning, forks are again left if sufficient leaders have not already 

 been obtained. As a rule 15 to 18 are left on the i)ear and on all upright growers, 

 and from 18 to 24 on wide-growing \'arieties are arn]:)le, and then no crowding 

 results. Any crowding of the top of the tree means starvation and barrenness of 

 the base and main arms, because sunlight and air must be given free circulation 

 throughout the tree in order to keep the lower fruiting-wood strong, liealthy, 

 and productive. 



We now ha\'e the framework of our tree, and each \ariety of fruit must 1)0 

 treated and studied separately and pruned to suit its particular reqviirements. 

 When once tlie recpiisite number of leaders has been obtained, no further forks or 

 brandies are permitted, unless to fill u]:) a space caused by a broken limb and so 

 forth, and the leaders must be kept intact so as to draw the sap direct to the 

 extremities. Once the leaders are lost, the grower is soon in difficulties ; for he 

 has lost, with them, control of the tree, and the extremities are converted 

 into fruiting wood. 



After the third year we have to consider our future crops of fruit and throw 

 the tree into bearing. This must be done gradually, as the young tree must not 

 be exliausted by being made to bear heavy crops but should be gradually brought 

 into full bearing as it approaches and reaches the age of eight or ten years, accord- 

 ing to variety : the object being to maintain a strong, healthy, and vigorous 

 low-set tree, capable of bearing regular and heavy crops of fruit from base upwai'ds, 

 on tlie framework or leaders established, without any breaking-down of the limbs 

 or stunting of the tree, this framework being so well spaced as to allow plenty of 

 room between each leader, and the centre of the tree being kept as well open as 

 the variety and climatic conditions require, and all the main and secondary arms 

 being at an angle and not upright to the trunk. 



The fruiting wood or spiu's should be built up gi'adually each year on all 

 varieties of trees. 



The Apple* 



Having obtained the frame work of the tree, the laterals Iiaving been thmned 

 and sliortened each year are now alloM'ed to go unpruned on those \"arieties which 

 carry their fruits on the lateral growth. This checks tlieir growth, and lias the 

 additional advantage of throwing all the strength of the tree into the main leaders. 

 These laterals, if left unpruned, in some varieties in one year, in others in two years, 

 develop fruit-buds along their full length. These laterals must then be short- 

 ened back, and only jjermitted length enough to carry and mature only good quality 

 fruit, as local conditions permit. In some strong-growing varieties it is necessary 

 to allow the leaders also to go unshortened, but whenever this is done the leaders 

 should be shortened back the following winter to strengthen them, otherwise 

 they become too weak and willow}' to carry future crops. This process should 

 not be jwactised until the fourth or fifth year, according to the vigour and size 

 of the tree, and only then if all the leaders recjuired have already been obtained, 

 and the process must be repeated until the tree is thrown into bearing habits 

 by checking the wood growth and pronroting fruiting spurs. By letting the leaders 

 go in this manner every bud along the leader develops into a fruit-bud, but provided 

 the tree is vigorous no hesitation need be made in shortening the leader back, for 

 the terminal buds will burst and continue the leaders. This applies equally to 



