59 



Figure 63 shows an old fruit siJui- which has dividtid and multiplied as the 

 tree aged. Owing to want of proper thinning it has become far too crowded. 

 These spurs are to be found on both the aged apple and the pear. It should be 

 heavily thinned where marked, if the tree contains many of them. 



Fig. 63. 

 Aged I'niit spur, should lie pruned where marked. 



The Pear. 



The pear requires the same low, open, stout framework as is needed by other 

 varieties of fruit. 



For economical working conditions it is most important that no centre leaders 

 be permitted, because these if left will take the sap and race away. Most pears 

 naturallj' assume an upright, pyramid form of growth. Not only will such 

 leaders take all the growth, but, on account of the resulting starvation of the 

 outside ones, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient number of leaders for the 

 tree to carry its fruit upon. The centre leaders, being few, and very rank in 

 growth, do not spur readily, and the effect is that the fruit, being grown on the 

 extremities and the tops of the trees, breaks them down or distorts them. Figure 

 64 illustrates this forni of tree, and it represents a fair average specimen of 

 many trees to be seen in certain districts of this State. (Jrowers are far too timid 

 about pruning the pear hard in its early years, and throwing it well open at the 

 base. Growers who allow their trees to grow in this manner complain that, as 

 the result of hard pruning, the tree grows ranker than ever ; and of course tlie trees 

 will do this as long as orchardists persist in growing the trees in this manner ; but 

 if the trees are pruned in a proper manner, with wide base and at least 15 to 18 

 leaders, the growth will be thrown, equally divided, into those leaders arranged 

 and spaced equally round an open centre. If very vigorous, these leaders (which 

 should be obtained by the fifth year) can be checked, and the tree can be brought 

 into bearing by allowing the permanent leaders to go unpruned for a season and 



