56 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. 



back to points A, B, or C, and thus the tree may 

 be kept evenly balanced. 



Where bush or half-standard trees are grown, 

 it is always best to a^'oid a crowded tree. The 

 trees should be kept sufficiently thinned out, so 

 as to admit the sun and air freely. 



Apples and pears should be grown on the spur 

 system. Cherries and plums are less adapted to 

 the spur treatment, therefore it is best to grow 

 them on the extension system, simply thinning 

 out any shoots that may have the least tendency 

 to crowd the trees. 



The directions given for the pruning of trees 

 applies to trees in their dormant state only, and 

 must not, in any way, be mixed up or associated 

 with the "pinching of trees" in active growth, 

 for which separate instructions are given in the 

 following section. 



Pinching oi- trees. — In olden times pinching 

 was practised to excess, and it was no unusual 

 thing to find a tree presenting the appearance of 

 a hedge when clipped with shears. The result 

 was a stunted tree with stunted fruit. Recently 

 pinching has been done in a modified form, i.e. 

 less severely, the result being the production of 

 ornamental trees bearing fruit of good size and 

 quality. With bush or half-standard trees, the 

 first pinch is the essential one. The other pinching 



