APPLE TREE. 



133 



fruitful buds near to the origin of the spur, 

 those must be left that are further off; but 

 always take care to preserve the bud situated 

 nearest to the branch which supports the 

 spur, whether it be a growing, or a fruitful 

 one, as spur B, a, fruitful bud; b, growing 

 bud. In taking off the buds required, they 



Fig. 4. 



must be carefully pruned away by a small 

 pointed knife; and all, whether fruitful or 

 growing ones, must be cut clean away, ex- 

 cept the one directed to be retained. 



If there be a suitable supply of buds upon 

 the old part of the spur, as spur C, c, c, c, 

 let them be kept in preference to those buds 

 formed at the base of a shoot which has been 

 pruned once or more during summer, as b ; 

 for when there is a proper supply on the old 

 part of the spur, all such shoots should be 

 cut clean away, with the exception of one 

 that is situated near to the origin of the 

 spur, as e, when that bud, and the tw r o next 



