APPLE TREE. 



121 



the remaining four horizontally along the 

 wall, two on each side the stem of the tree; 

 these must be trained nine inches apart, 

 which distance is the best for the approved 

 treatment of the Apple tree. For, when 

 they are much nearer than this, they exclude 

 the sun and air from operating upon the buds 

 and wood, in such a manner as is required 

 to keep the tree productive. Also by being 

 too close, they afford harbour for insects: 

 nor can remedies be so w r ell applied in order 

 to destroy them. But by having them at 

 the distance of nine inches, every advantage 

 is received from the sun and air, and the 

 trees are more easily kept clear from every 

 thing injurious. The snoots must not be 

 permitted to push too far, without being se- 

 cured to the wall; for being very brittle, 

 they readily break by the force of the 

 wind. 



Do not let the shoots be pinched in the 

 shreds, as it would cause the buds to break 

 prematurely, below the place in which the 

 shoots were thus strangled. And when this 

 occurs it is injurious, by causing those buds 

 to push the first season, which ought not to 

 have done so until the second. If an ac- 

 cident of this kind happen, a shoot well 

 situated nearest to the end of the damaged 

 branch,, must be trained forward for a lead; 

 and if more shoots than one were produced 

 by the accident, they must be treated in 



