APRICOT TREE. 



217 



are reserved have attained about nine inches 

 in length, they must be nailed to the wall at 

 three inches apart. But when there is not a 

 sufficient space between the main branches 

 to admit of two shoots being trained in from 

 every shoot of the last year's wood, so that 

 the new shoots be at the distance from each 

 other as stated; let the uppermost shoot be 

 pruned back to four inches in length, and 

 when it pushes again a few inches, let the 

 top be pinched off so as to leave about an 

 inch of that part which pushed the last. The 

 lowest shoot must be nailed in at full length, 

 If a tree be very vigorous, both shoots must 

 be left if possible, so that they do not crowd 

 and smother each other, which would encou- 

 rage instead of prevent luxuriancy. The 

 necessity of training in for a while, and after- 

 wards shortening the uppermost shoot as here 

 directed is, that if it was allowed to grow all 

 the season, it would crowd the tree too much, 

 also it would be exhausting the strength of 

 the tree ; because when wood is not desired 

 as before alluded to, such a shoot will have 

 to be pruned entirely away at the ensuing 

 winter pruning. But it is indispensibly ne- 

 cessary to allow it to push as directed, and 

 then be stopped, and afterwards to push a 

 few inches and then be stopped again. Be- 

 cause without a leading shoot the fruit would 

 not ripen, but by treating it in the manner 

 described, the fruit will derive every required 



f f 



