PLANTING FRUIT TREES 



257 



tree is secured by cutting back the inner branches to four buds, and regulating 

 the shoots so that a proper balance is kept upon all sides of the tree. Cherries 

 require this treatment for three years, other fruit trees for longer ; but when 

 the heads are well developed only weakly shoots or those which cross each 

 other, and useless spray, will require to be cut out. Trees carefully pruned 

 give the finest fruits, so that year by year a little attention pays. With garden 

 trees, as pyramids, espaliers, bushes, it is only necessary annually to cut back 

 the side-shoots to four buds, and to leave 6 inches of new growth upon the 

 leading shoots. Of course, close prun- 

 ing is necessary for a few years until the 

 desired form is secured. 



The side shoots of cordon pear trees 

 must not be cut in too closely, four to 

 six buds should be left ; some of them 

 may go blind. Shoots of cordon apples 

 may be cut in closer ; those near the top 

 of the tree ought to be shortened more 

 than those at the base, otherwise the 

 basal fruit-spurs may suffer. 



Bush Fruit Trees. — Cut back the 

 shoots of red and white currants and 

 gooseberries to within six buds of their 

 bases after planting, afterwards 6 inches 

 of new growth may annually be left 

 until the bushes are formed. Black 

 currants require different treatment, see 

 the chapter dealing with this fruit. 



Subsequent Treatment. — A com- 

 mon error in fruit culture is giving an 

 excess of manure to young trees. 

 Moderate, well-ripened shoots are best ; 

 where growth is forced as it were, 

 sappy wood is produced, and young 

 trees, especially of the cherry and plum, 

 are liable to be injured by frost. Where 

 new growths more than 12 inches long 

 are made in one season, the trees do not require manuring. It is wise to 

 assist only those trees bearing heavy crops ; liquid manure and soapy water 

 will then help both trees and fruits. The pruning of wall fruit trees is described 

 in the chapters dealing with their culture. 



Tree in Second Winter, Four of the 

 Strongest and Best Situated Shoots 

 having been selected in the previous 

 Summer, the Others Removed. Those 

 Retained are allowed to Extend, 

 AND ANY Side Shoots that ensue are 

 Pinched at the Second or Third Leaf. 



(/") Shoots cut to outside buds, 6 inches from 

 their bases. 



ROOT -LIFTING AND ROOT -PRUNING 



Ordinarf^ garden soil having been heavily manured for the culture of vege- 

 tables is usually so much richer than the soil of a nursery that apples and pears, 

 after having given perhaps two satisfactory crops, begin to grow very rapidly. 



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