THE PREMATURE LATERAL. 103 



In the case of very old trees no rules can be 

 given, as these require less severe pruning, and 

 vary considerably. 



In fig. 1 7, we have a premature lateral drawn 



Fig. 17.— WINTER PRUNING. 



by myself from nature early in August. The 

 leaves are omitted. We notice the pair of buds 

 at the very base of this lateral; they are pro- 

 minent, dark in colour, and triple, which is not 

 always the case. The lateral had been stopped at 

 the fourth leaf, when it had made some six full- 

 sized leaves, and two these four buds have extended. 

 That marked b has been stopped at the second 

 growth, and has formed at that point a group of 

 flower-buds which would ripen in an orchard- 

 house; the other bud, marked c, has also extended, 



