490 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



shoots lower down the tree. For illustration, 

 we will suppose an established tree, which has 

 been planted five or six years. The nails being 

 all unloosened, excepting a few to hold the 

 principal shoots, operations should commence 

 at the bottom of the tree near the collar. Here 

 it is that a watchful eye must be keenly exer- 

 cised, at each returning pruning season, in order 

 to preserve and continue a due succession of 

 rising shoots from the lowest portion of the 

 tree. It is evident that if the young shoots at 

 this point are not taken care of, the lowest part 

 of the tree will become barren, and a part of the 

 wall wasted, besides which the tree will not be 

 BO ornamental. It frequently happens that 

 some of the young shoots at this point are in- 

 ferior in character ; and very frequently shoots 

 which spring from the collar, and reach a yard 

 or so, possess a fine young shoot lower down, 

 which is fitter to become the leading shoot of 

 that portion of the tree than the one already 

 existing. When such is the case, it becomes 

 necessary to cut away the older portion. This 

 must be done with a clean cut,, and nearly close 

 to the point from which the future leader comes. 

 However, the flr.st point is to out away any cank- 

 ered or diseased shoots, and then to shorten 

 judiciously these at the lowest level that can be 

 obtained. It may here be observed that no 

 fruit should ever be permitted to grow for the 

 space of a foot from the top of the collar on any 

 given shoot. If fruit is produced at these lower 

 extremities they are always inferior, and they 

 only serve to oppress a portion of the tree 

 which ought always to be kept as a nursery for 

 young shoots to keep the tree well famished. By 

 ' shortening judiciously' we mean cutting back 

 the lowest-placed young shoots as low as possible, 

 provided a few good eyes or buds are left, and 

 that such shoots are not required to fill existing 

 blanks in the walls. Such, then, when pruned 

 back, may be considered a guarantee against the 

 tree becoming naked. We come now to bear- 

 ing wood, and here the main point is selection, 

 supposing there are more young shoots than are 

 required. In making a choice, it is necessary to 

 distinguish between the different kinds of young 

 shoots ; for, strange to say, there are at least 

 three kinds of young shoots on many peach and 

 nectarine trees, and on most there are two." 

 These Mr E. characterises as — first, Perfect 

 bearing shootsjsecond, Exhausted shoots; third, 

 Barren shoots, and these refer to the young 

 spray. First, " Perfect bearing shoots. — These, in 

 general, may be known by the majority of the 

 eyes or buds seated on them being threefold — 

 that is to say, in threes. When such is the case, 

 the two outer ones are almost always blossom- 

 buds, and the central one a wood-bud. All 

 such is deemed wood of first-rate character, and 

 it is the aim of the experienced cultivator to 

 secure as much of this as possible. Second, 

 Exhausted shoots. — We are not assured that this 

 is the most proper title to give this class of 

 shoots ; one thing, however, we do know, that 

 when such shoots do begin to prevail generally 

 over a tree, it is a pretty sure sign of a ' break- 

 ing up of the constitution of the tree.' These 

 have, for the most part, a single bud at a joint. 



and that bud a solitary blossom-bud. Such 

 could not be readily distinguished, in early au- 

 tumn-pruning, by a novice from the next class ; 

 and this is a reason why amateurs who prune 

 for themselves had better defer it till the early 

 part of February. Wood of this character, rf 

 left on the tree, has seldom vigour enough to 

 produce fine fruit. Indeed, such wood not un- 

 frequently 'sets' its blossoms more freely than 

 the preceding class ; and it is by no means un- 

 usual, at the thinning period at the end of May, 

 ' to meet with shoots of this class with a score of 

 fruit on, yet no leading bud or growing shoot. 

 These fruits exhaust the tree much, and even- 

 tually fall off. Third, Barren shoots. — These, 

 again, possess solitary buds. They are, however, 

 usually of late growth, and may readily be 

 known by their pale and unripe character ; or 

 they are the production of over-luxuriant trees, 

 and serve to denote a tree of gross constitution 

 or vigour misplaced. The difference between 

 these and the preceding section is at once ap- 

 parent at spring-pruning. The solitary buds of 

 the former becoine veiy plump of a sudden, 

 whilst these do not appear to increase at all. 

 Wood of this character, if ripened, is frequently 

 of eminent service, inasmuch as it serves to 

 keep up the main fabric of the tree ; and al- 

 though not bearing wood itself, it is capable of 

 producing fine bearing shoots for the ensuing 

 year. Some of this must, therefore, be occa- 

 sionally reserved, especially if a blank or space 

 bare of shoots in any part be anticipated ; for be 

 it understood, much in peach-pruning depends 

 on a far-seeing eye or skilful anticipation." The 

 above may be taken as a description as to the 

 condition of the tree, while the following may 

 be considered as the rationale of Mr Errington's 

 management of it, so far as regards its pruning : 

 " The main business is to reserve a series of 

 shoots all over the tree of the class No. 1, and 

 where this class cannot be obtained, to secure 

 enough of No. 3 ; the No. 2 class may, in most 

 cases, be considered a last resource. So much for 

 selection. We must now advert to the short- 

 ening of the young spray. Only two reasons 

 exist for shortening at all : the one is where 

 shoots overtake each other, in which case some 

 must be made to retreat, or the tree would be 

 soon all confusion ; the other is founded on 

 the necessity of removing unripe portions. The 

 first case any mere tyro can judge for himself, 

 the second requires some care. A little prac- 

 tice will, however, teach the uninitiated the dif- 

 ference between the two. The principal cri- 

 terion is hardness. A practical man would soon 

 distinguish them, although blindfolded, by 

 means of his knife. Colour has something to 

 do in this matter. Ripe wood is generally of a 

 brownish colour — unripe, of a pale and delicate 

 green. In ordinary oases about one-third has 

 to be cut away ; nevertheless it is not easy to 

 lay down a general maxim as to shortening, for 

 it becomes necessary, for the sake of successional 

 wood, to shorten more severely at the lower parts 

 of the tree, decreasing in its amount progressively 

 upwai'ds." In regard to the removal of large 

 branches, Mr E. observes : " We never take these 

 away unless compelled by sheer necessity. The 



