08 



hard-and-fast rule can bi^ laid down, for varieties differ in this respect owing to 

 chniatic and soil conditions ; only observation can demonstrate this, and growers 

 should watch and experiment with the laterals for themselves ; by doing this 

 they can work with Natiu-e in place of forcing her unnaturally. It generally takes 

 more than one season to develop spurs on pear laterals. There are always some 

 of the shorter laterals which have never been cut back in previous seasons which 

 will give some clue as to linw to treat the lateral growth. When pruning Gansells 

 and Vicars in one district this season (1912) I noticed well spurred tAvo year old 

 laterals. Tliese points must be watched for. In such cases the laterals should 

 not be shortened too se-verely either in winter or summer pruning, and in some 

 oases are better left unp)rmied for a season or two. Figures 74 and 75 show 

 seven-year old trees of Winter Coles and Bailey's Bergamotte varieties, while Figure 76 

 shows an aged Beurre Capiaumont pruned and in flower. This tree was started 





Pig. 74. 

 Winter Coles. 



^^•ith a verj? narrow Ijase, but it was thrown wide in subsequent p)runings and is 

 now a very shapely, roomy tree carrying its 17 leaders without crowding. It is 

 well clothed with fruiting spurs from base to tip. These spurs have been kept 

 thinned out. 



Pears of the Winter Nelis tj'pe. Figure 77, a seven-year old tree, are verv 

 difficult to prune to shape in their early stages owing to their unshapely 

 manner of growth. Some growers prefer to let such trees go unpruned 

 and shape them later when they commence to bear, but much growth is 

 lost by doing this, and the tree is then even still more difficult to shape, 

 and apart from this the tree becomes a wilderness without main leaders. 

 Shape such trees as for other varieties for the first four years, choosing 

 well placed shoots for future arms and sub-arms. Those which go out too wide, 

 cut well above a top or inside bud, or, better still, to an upward lateral, and thos& 



