170 TREATMENT OF THE 



The distance at which the trees are to be 

 set apart, is for a wall twelve feet high, 

 twenty feet; and a greater or less distance 

 in proportion to the height of the wall. The 

 tree must be mulched and watered every year 

 agreeably to instructions given in the re- 

 spective Chapters. 



The horizontal mode of training is of all 

 others far the best for Plum trees. 



As in treating upon the Apple and Pear, 

 I commenced the date of each year from the 

 first winter pruning of the tree, I shall pur- 

 sue the same method in the treatment upon 

 the Plum, and shall lay down directions 

 for such a length of time after planting, as I 

 consider necessary fully to convey an accu- 

 rate description of the mode to be practised. 



First Year. — Winter Pruning, — The tree 

 must be headed down at spring. If it be a 

 strong one cut it down to seven buds, but if 

 a w r eakly one to three buds. When the 

 shoots have pushed about two or three inches 

 long, the uppermost shoot must be trained 

 straight up the wall, and of the other shoots 

 the two uppermost and the two lowest must 

 be trained, two on each side of the main 

 stem, and the remaining tw o must be rubbed 

 off. As the shoots advance, let them be 

 carefully nailed to the wall. When the up- 

 right shoot has pushed about eighteen inches 

 in length, let the top be pinched off so 

 as to leave it about thirteen inches. This 



