THE APPLE. 



67 



like a Willow-stool. The sap flows in greatest 

 abundance into the upper branches to be again 

 fruitlessly expended, instead of being equally 

 distributed throughout the whole of the tree, 

 and unproductiveness is the consequence. The 

 cause having been traced to the buds on the 

 upper branches, and more especially the buds 

 on the higher sides of these branches being 



allowed to develop strong shoots, it is evident 

 that the remedy consists in checking that 

 tendency, and this is in fact the principal 

 object to be kept in view in managing espaliers; 

 for, however well they may be attended to in 

 other respects, they will not afford a satisfactory 

 result if that be neglected. 



First Season. — This may date from the plant- 

 ing of the tree in autumn; it should then be 

 cut down to 1 foot above the ground. Train 



Fig. 866. — Two-year-old espalier Apple, before pruning. 



the shoot from the uppermost bud upright in 

 summer; also a shoot to the right and another 

 to the left, at an angle of 45° in the first in- 

 stance, and if one grow stronger than the other, 

 depress the strong and elevate the weak. 



Second Season. — Cut back the upright shoot 

 to about 1 foot from where it was formerly 

 shortened, or to one bud above two buds eligible 

 for forming a second pair of horizontals. These 

 two buds should be a little below the horizontal 

 line along which the shoots from them are ulti- 

 mately to be trained. Let the lowest two be 

 brought to the horizontal position if strong, 

 but only nearly to that position if weak. These 

 lowest branches cannot be too strong; therefore, 

 the shoots they produce should be allowed to 

 grow unchecked, except so much as may be 

 found necessary to prevent their competing too 

 much with the leaders. 



Third Season. — Cut back the upright shoot as 

 before, and shorten the laterals on the horizon- 



Fig. 867.— The same enlarged to show pruning to produce a third pair 

 of horizontal branches and a continuation of the growth in the others. 



| tals to about 2 inches. Shoots will start from 

 I the parts left, and they should be pinched when 

 about 6 inches in length. 



Proceed in this manner till the requisite num- 

 ber of horizontals is obtained. When the up- 

 right shoot is cut in order to obtain the two 

 uppermost horizontals, only two buds should 

 be allowed to grow, a third one, for an upright, 

 being no longer required. 



The direction of the branches being that of 

 horizontal lines at equal distances, the leaders 

 have only to be trained in that direction, and 

 the intended form of the tree will be ensured. 

 This part of the management is so simple that 

 it requires no comment. It is, however, neces- 

 sary to direct particular attention to the way 

 in which the flow of sap should be equalized, 

 and consequently an equal degree of vigour 

 maintained amongst the respective branches, 

 and according as that equality is maintained, 

 the more healthy and productive they will be; 



