FRUIT CULTURE IN FRANCE 



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then very vigorous jgrowths result, wrhich are left longer in succeeding years in 

 order to form the frame. It is almost the same with plums and peaches, vi^hich 

 usually growr strongly the second year. We vi^ould observe that trees w^ith high 

 stems are only pruned during the first five or six years, when one endeavours 

 to make them of good and well-balanced shape, generally that of a vase or funnel, 

 for these forms admit plenty of air to the middle of the tree, a condition essential 



Standard Vase-Shaped Plum Tree 



to fruitfulness. The apricot, however, is an exception, for it requires to be con- 

 stantly cut back on account of its tendency to cease producing at the base of 

 its branches and to bear all its fruit at the extremities. 



Various Palmates. — The palmate is the type par excellence of the trained 

 forms. It consists of an axis with oblique, horizontal, or vertical branches on 

 either side. All these variations are obtained in the same way by cutting the 

 maiden to three buds at om.30 or om.35 from the ground, for all kinds except 



