THEORY OF LONG PRUNING. 



73 



cases the interval between the branches which are 

 laid horizontally, should be about 2 feet. In short? 

 excessive shortening of the branches should be 

 avoided; all vertical lines should be left till the last 

 to be established, and, for the first years, little fruit 

 should be expected. When once the tree is well 

 formed the branches may be left untouched, and 

 the shoots being carefully attended to, the tree will 

 bear and grow. In irregular fans with central 

 stems, the fruit is comparatively valueless in the 

 lower branches, which languish as the sap is at- 

 tracted to the upper branches, while the whole 

 centre of the tree is apt to become bare and ex- 

 posed for the same reason. 



No. 11. — Theory of Long Pruning. 



The object of all pruning is not to increase the 

 vigour of the entire tree, but to control and modify 

 that vigour, and so accelerate and regulate the 

 fruiting period. Pruning, conjointly with appro- 

 priate training, claims to be able to add to the 

 longevity of fruit trees. This is effected by ba- 

 lancing the separate parts. More than this ought 

 not to be expected from any system of pruning. 

 This, to be successful, must be based on an accu- 

 rate knowledge of the habits of each kind, which 

 knowledge is the result of observation and expe- 



