58 BEGINNER'S BOOK OF GARDENING 



smaller the proportion of sap drawn to that part. On 

 the other hand, allow as large a quantity of fruit as 

 possible to remain on the strong side, while suppressing 

 all but a little on the weak side, because fruit draws 

 to itself the sap from the root and absorbs it in its 

 growth. Thus the production of fruit tends to hinder 

 the development of the strong side, which is what is 

 required in the production of an evenly balanced tree. 

 So far we have been speaking of the principles involved 

 in producing a tree of symmetrical form ; but the prin- 

 cipal object of pruning is, undoubtedly, to induce the 

 development of a maximum number of fruit buds. The 

 first principle to bear in mind in pruning for this object 

 is that the more the sap is retarded in its circulation the 

 less wood and the more fruit-buds will be developed. 

 It is wise to commence pruning fruit trees as soon as 

 they are well in leaf. Take each branch issuing from 

 the main stem and pinch off the point or end shoot of each 

 branchlet which proceeds from it. The shoot at the 

 end of the branch should, however, be left untouched. 

 This pinching off should be practised as soon as the 

 brachlet has five leaves developed on it, and should be 

 done at such a point as to leave only three leaves on the 

 branchlet. Every branch of the tree should be treated in 

 the same manner, but the shoot at the end of the main 

 axis of the tree should remain untouched. This pro- 

 cess should be repeated through the summer as soon as 

 any branchlet develops five leaves. At about the end 

 of July the terminal shoots of each branch and of the 

 leading stem are also to be pinched off. About the end 

 of August the ends of all branches which have out- 

 grown the average circumference of 'the tree should be 

 cut back to an outside bud sufficiently to make the whole 

 of the branches symmetrical, the lowest tier of branches 

 being longest and the highest tier shortest. The central 

 leading stem should at the same time be cut back to a 



