122 



The Loquat, 



This tree, being an evergreen, does not call for the same attention in pruning 

 as deciduous trees require. The main stem should be from 18 inches to two feet 

 in height to first branch, if planted in the orchard, but if used for a break- wind the 

 main stem should be from two feet to three feet in height. 



The centre leader should be removed when the tree is planted and encourage 

 a bu h habit of growth, but prevent the tree from spreading too much by judicious 

 pruning, and removing of the side shoots. As the tree ages it is necessary to thin 

 out bjr removing limbs or branches when too crowded. Keep the tree shapely, 

 and not too crowded in any part. The prunmg is best done just before the growth 

 starts in the Autumn. The fruit is borne on branching spurs, which start out from 

 the terminal buds in the late autumn, the flowers opening early in the winter, and 

 the fruit ripening early in the spring. Fresh growth starts out from the base buds 

 of these branching spurs which die back after bearing. This young growth is 

 often too thick, and requires thinning, otherwise overcrowding results. The old 

 decayed fruit-clusters remaining after bearing should be removed, as thej' encourage 

 fungoid diseases, such as " Black Spot " of the loquat. As the fruit is produced 

 in the damp weather of winter these diseases are liable to be transferred to the fruit. 



Renovating Old Trees. 



The Peach. — Peach trees, whether old or young, that have become exhausted 

 or run out and become unprofitable, bearing only on the extremities and top of the 

 tree, due to bad pruning and cultivation in the young tree, or exhaustion, due to 

 age in the old tree, can be given a fresh lease of life by heading right off as illustrated 

 in Figure 149, and started off afresh. The trees can be done by degrees, a few 

 each season, so that growers will not be deprived of all the fruit if required to carry 

 on with. The tree should not be cut too far back because the old wood left will 

 throw out new laterals from dormant buds all up the old limbs. On the other 

 hand the tree must be cut back severely enough to ensure its starting strongly 

 again, for if too much top is left only weak growth results. Figure 150 shows an 

 unprofitable tree which pays to cut back. Figure 151 shows how this should 

 be done ; any lateral growth down the limbs should not be touched. The tree will 

 not always burst at the sawcuts.so any stubs must be removed in the following 

 season's pruning. Figure 152 shows a tree twelve months after cutting back. 

 It will be noticed what strong health5' growth it has made and how well clothed the 

 old limbs have become with new lateral growth. The tree should be carefully 

 pruned and thinned, choosing the best placed and strongest shoots for leaders and 

 stubbing others back. Do not take them all out flush unless there are too many 

 and crowded, because they will throw fruiting wood for the following season. 

 All the laterals down the old limbs should be carefully thinned out if necessary^ 

 and sliortened, but remember the peach bears on the new wood and much of this 

 growth will produce good fruit this season, therefore prune for fruit. The old 

 laterals will also have thrown out good fruiting wood and will carry some nice 

 fruit, so prune tliese as required. A large proportion of the new growth will blossom 

 and carry good fruit and with the large root system in proportion to the top, the 



