THE PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 



The Pxttm-teee. 



samining the buds of the Plum-tree, it will be found that the wood- 

 te so sharp-pointed that there is little danger of mistating them for 



blossom-buds, the latter 

 being obtuse. In the wood- 

 buds the rudiments of the 

 leaves are convolute, rolled 

 nearly round each other, 

 and so as to form a sharp 

 cone, having the growing 

 point in the centre at the 

 base. As they increase in 

 size the blossom-buds show 

 more disposition to expand 

 outwards than to become 

 elongated. Although the 

 Plum and Cherry aie in 

 many respects closely al- 

 lied, yet they differ essen- 

 tially as regards their leaf- 

 buds. In those of the 

 Plum the rudiments of the 

 leaves are rolled up as 

 above explained; in those 

 of the Cherry they are 

 simply folded. 



When the stem of a 

 standard Plum-tree has 

 attained sufficient height 

 let it be headed back to 

 three buds above the place 

 from whence the lowest 

 limb is required to pro- 

 ceed. Encourage three 

 shoots from these upper 

 buds to grow at full length 

 during the summer ; and at 

 the winter pruning shorten 

 each of them to about a 

 foot in length. Two shoots 

 from each of these three so 

 cut back win originate six 

 principal limbs to form the 

 head. Most cultivated varieties of the Plum have naturally spreading tops, 

 so that the principal care requisite in pruning, after the head has been 



Fig. LXXVIII.— Shoots of the Plum-tree. 



1, portion of Bhoot one year old. 



2, two-years old wood. 



3, three-years old do. 

 a, a, a, a, blossom-btida. 



6, &, b, b, b, 6, 6, wood-buda. 



