FRUIT CULTURE IN FRANCE 



357 



the short and weak shoots with flower-buds and a terminal leaf-bud are left 

 alone. To leave a branch unpruned is to strengthen it, to cut it short is to 

 weaken it ; and this is the reason why, even against all theories, we cut back 

 vigorous shoots closely. Where there are strong shoots which do not fruit, 

 there are often also weak ones that give but little fruit, and from which it is 

 always difBcult to obtain good successional shoots. By cutting back strong 

 growths we divert the flow of sap from them to the weaker ones, and so make 

 these strong. In a word, it is necessary always to treat each part of the tree 

 according to its needs and in relation to the needs of other parts, so as to 



A Shoot of the Peach, Stopped or Pinched to assist the Development 

 OF the Fruits and the Production of Successional Growths 



preserve the balance throughout. Wood that has borne fruit should be re- 

 moved, and the shoot for next year's fruiting trained in to take its place ; this 

 in its turn will also produce a shoot to bear fruit the succeeding year. When 

 shortening a shoot always cut to a wood-bud, not to a fruit-bud (the former are 

 more elongated than the latter), and to a wood-bud that is on the upper side 

 of the shoot. The shoots are pruned in spring. 



Disbudding is practised in order to leave growths to form as many new 

 shoots as are required. One or two above the fruits must be left, otherwise 

 these will not develop properly. Lateral shoots are stopped at three or four 



