150 



THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



shoots, it may be laid down as a fixed rule, 

 that classes 5, 6, and 7, should never be touched 

 at the winter pruning. Class 5, or the cluster- 

 spur, is a perfect type, able to bear and also to 

 extend by means of its central leaf-bud. It is 

 found in abundance on trees in pots, and on all 

 kinds of cordons on walls. It is the mainstay 

 of the close pruning system. Figs 5, 20, and 

 21, in support of this view, are photographed. 

 On the shoots of diagonal cordons of a certain 

 age, this class is most common. In fig 22, all 

 marked b, are cluster-spurs, or "bouquets de Mai," 

 as the French call them. Class 6, is the same spur 

 after bearing. (See fig. 6, No. 9.) A little prac- 

 tice will enable the pruner to recognise it, and as 

 it is short and has a terminal leaf-bud, it must be 

 left untouched now, so as to make a new shoot 

 during the summer. Of course, all below this 

 growth will be bare for ever, but this is not of much 

 consequence, as is evident in fig. 22, where c shows 

 its relative length and position. Class 7, or fruit- 

 spray, is also a valuable type of shoot, very common 

 in close pruning. In fig. 7 (No. 9), and in fig. 22, 

 where it is marked a, we have examples of this 

 class. In fig. 20 (No. 18), it is also seen, the en- 

 graving being taken from a photograph ; it has a 

 terminal leaf-bud, and can bear, having single 

 blossom-buds. If it had no wood-bud close to its 



