152 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



common in young trees, and useful to shape them. 

 Whenever, then, either of these types occur as ex- 

 tensions of any form of tree, they should not be 

 shortened after the first year or so. In close 

 pruning we soon cease to think of them as shoots, 

 and rather incline to regard them as useful to bear 

 the shorter ones only. 



Class 1, fig. 1, pare wood-shoot. Naturally 

 inclined to grow long, and having a few feeble 

 blossom-buds at its extremity. Seen in young 

 trees, and also in the extensions of older forms, 

 and only useful in this respect, as laying the 

 foundation of riper wood. 



Class 4, fig. 4, the gross shoot, or "gour- 

 mand" of the French. A vigorous development 

 of Class 1. Useful to form young trees quickly, 

 but to be carefully watched in older forms lest 

 the tree be thrown out of balance. As the 

 main stem of a healthy pyramid in the border, 

 or in the case of a fan-shaped tree on the wall, 

 where it is preferred not to divide the tree into two 

 wings, much progress is made by it. It is readily 

 known by its darker colour, the smallness of the 

 leaf-buds, and the premature laterals thrown out 

 at the upper portions. In close pruning, however, 

 all these naturally long shoots become, practically, 

 only useful to form the tree, while the naturally 

 shorter shoots are retained to bear the fruit. By 



