S74 THE PRACTICE OF PEUNING. 



of which is that the bud dies, and the new shoot not only does not come 

 where it was expected, but is surmounted by a dead joint, which will after- 

 wards have to be removed. In order to avoid the risk of "the cut to the 

 quick," some gardeners make use of "the snag cut" (d,e,f,) in which 

 the wound is made on the same side of the branch as that occupied by the bud, 

 slanting downwards towards it. That plan is objectionable ; for it involves 

 the necessity of leaving behind a dead portion of the branch, to be removed 

 at a later pruning, so that work must be done twice over ; moreover, it is 

 an admission of a want of the skill required to make "the clean cut" 

 skilfully. Lastly, there is "the slivering cut" (a), in which a long 

 ragged unequal shave is taken off the branch, much too low in the begin- 

 ning, and much too high at the end. It is the cut made by garden labourers. 

 It is clumsy, ugly, awkward, and dangerous, for it is apt to injure the 

 branch on which it is made. In all cases the amputation should be made 

 by one firm-drawn cut. The clean out can be performed by a dexterous 

 operator to within a shaving of the right line : and the mastery of this art 

 is no mean acquisition. Expert pruners will grasp a branch in their left 

 hand, and with one sharp quick draw remove a shoot as thick as the thumb. 

 But for this purpose a knife must be keen, and not blunt and notched, 

 as what are miscalled pruning knives frequently are. 



The Apple-teee. 



The Apple-tree, left to its natural growth, forms generally a low stem, 

 branching out into a top, which ultimately becomes hemispherical, towards 

 the outside of which fruit-spurs, leaves, and fruit are most abundant; to 

 support these, the branches interiorly may be considered as a sort of frame- 

 work, for they are often destitute of spurs or foliage. The Apple never bears, 

 except accidentally, on young wood. It is on wood two or more years old, 

 and on the stunted branches, called " spurs," that its fruit appears. 



This fruit being chiefly grown as a standard, it will be siiflficient to 

 mention that form. 



A Standard should have a clean, straight, substantial stem. Every leaf 

 which appears along it while young, should be encouraged. If any strong 

 shoot break out let it be checked ; but all other laterals should be allowed 

 to go on at least till the end of July, when they may be stopped by pinching 

 oflf their points. In the following autumn cut them off closely from the 

 lower portion of the stem, and shorten the rest back to one eye. In the 

 following season these eyes will push fresh shoots ; treat them like their 

 predecessors in summer, and clear an additional portion of the stem below, 

 in autumn, by closely cutting the laterals which may have pushed there- 

 from. By this mode of procedure self-supporting stems can be generally 

 insured. 



The formation of the top must now be considered. The height of clear 

 stem being determined, the upright leader exceeding that height in summer 



