62 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



foliage to give additional strength to the stem 

 below them. The foliage of these laterals also 

 encourages the formation of roots. 



In autumn, when the growth of the second 

 season is completed, the tree will exhibit a stem 

 consisting of the first summer's shoot, now two 

 years old, and, in continuation, the young shoot 

 or leader which has just ceased growing. The 

 laterals stopped in July should now be shortened 

 to one or two buds, with the exception of two 

 or three of the lowest, which should be cut close 

 to the stem. The same mode of proceeding with 

 regard to the side shoots on the stem should be 

 adopted every year. As the head of the tree 

 is in course of formation, and is producing 

 abundance of foliage, the side shoots can be 

 gradually dispensed with. The quantity of 

 foliage on a young tree should considerably 

 exceed every year that of the previous one; 

 therefore in gradually removing side shoots, 

 care should be taken that the consequent dimi- 

 nution of foliage should bear only a small pro- 

 portion to the increase made by the new 

 branches and shoots at the top. The rate of 

 increase of these must regulate the more or less 

 gradual removal and final clearance of the side 

 shoots. 



If the tree has been planted in rich soil, and 

 has consequently grown vigorously, the upright 

 leader will have attained the height of more 

 than G feet. But whatever may be the intended 

 height of the clear stem, the leading shoot 

 ought to be cut three buds above that height, 

 which would be a few inches above 6 feet from 

 the ground for a stem 6 feet high. Suppos- 

 ing, however, that the extremity of the shoot 

 reached very little above the intended height 

 of stem, the buds immediately below the cut, 

 and which are to commence the main limbs of 

 the tree, would be situated on the softest part 

 of the shoot. Instead of this it would be desir- 

 able that these limbs should originate from buds 

 on the more substantial part of the shoot; 

 therefore, if it happen that the shoot is not 

 firm at the required height, it will be advisable 

 to let it grow for another season, and then cut 

 it back. 



In the following spring three shoots should 

 be encouraged from the three buds just below 

 the place where the leader was cut. Three 

 main branches are better than two, as regards 

 the formation of a well-balanced head ; four are 

 too many from the same point, or so nearly 

 from the same point that when they become 

 large they appear to have so originated. 



As the shoots grow they should receive par- 



more, should be encouraged from 

 three original ones. 



ticular attention throughout the summer, for 

 much depends on the limbs being fairly and 

 equally started. If left to themselves, they will 

 rarely proceed at an equal rate of growth. The 

 uppermost will incline to take the lead, and 

 will endeavour to grow upright to form a stem. 

 This tendency must, however, be checked in 

 good time. The shoot having this inclination 

 should be made to diverge at a lower angle 

 than either of the others; and, on the other 

 hand, the weakest shoot ought to be elevated 

 the most. In short, equality of growth between 

 these primary shoots must be maintained. 



Before the growing season is over, 1 foot at 

 least of the lower part of each shoot ought to 

 be made straight, and all three should be 

 trained equidistant, and to diverge from the 

 stem at an angle of about 45°. At the autumn 

 or winter pruning each of the shoots should be 

 cut back to within 9 inches or 1 foot of its 

 base, observing to cut above two buds as nearly 

 opposite to each other as possible, and pointing 

 in the direction which it is desirable the shoots 

 springing from them should take. 



In the following season two shoots, and no 



each of the 

 The head will then consist 

 of six shoots, originating six principal branches. 

 By a little attention in summer, these can easily 

 be kept at equal distances from each other, and 

 also from the centre. The tree, it is presumed, 

 being vigorous, many shoots will grow from the 

 branches formed as above directed. If these 

 were allowed to remain till autumn, and then 

 cut back, many more would again start in the 

 following spring ; or if they were cut off closely, 



| the branches would be too naked. It will there- 

 fore be advisable to pinch them in summer, 



I when they have grown 6 inches, commencing 

 with the strongest. By this process shoots that 

 would otherwise cause confusion can be made 

 to assume the character of fruit-spurs, from 



! which some of the largest and fairest fruit will 

 be obtained. This is also the way to turn to 

 account any strong shoot, or rather any one 

 that would evidently become such, and which, 



j if allowed to proceed, would occupy a position 

 where it was not wanted. 



It is better to attend to this in summer than 

 to allow the shoot to grow till autumn and 

 then cut it back; and this again is better than 

 permitting it to remain for some years and 

 form a thick branch which must then be cut 

 out. In short, the head being fairly started 

 with its six equidistant branches, it may be left 

 to itself, with the exception of pinching, as 



