94 FRUITS, FLOWERS AND SHRUBS 



spurs — the irregular and superfluous shoote of thb 

 year's growth must also be cut off, close to the place 

 where they grow— in trimming the shoots, do not 

 let them cross each other, but thin the branches t© 

 form handsome heads ; train them parallel, about 

 six inches apart for espaliers. As soon as each tree 

 is pruned, tie it well to the treUises, if it be a» 

 espalier. 



PEACHES, NECTARINES, AND APRICOTS. 



These trees may be pruned this month — first un- 

 tie them from the trellises, if espaliers — cut out oli 

 wood wherever you can supply its place with shoots 

 ©f this year's growth, because it is on the latter the 

 fruit will chiefly grow next summer — the old wood 

 will produce no fruit, except on shoots that may 

 have grown on it this year: those branches that 

 have produced handsome, well placed shoots may 

 remain, particularly where you cannot replace them 

 with good shoots of this year's growth. If young 

 shoots grow too thick on standard trees, cut out the 

 worst, so as to form handsome heads — ail the re- 

 tained shoots of espaliers must be shortened— each 

 shoot should be shortened about one third of its 

 ength, strong shoots not quite so much, weak ones 

 a little more, being careful not to cut below all the 

 blossom buds, unless you wish wood to be produced ; 

 in which case you may cut below the seed buds. 

 Leave the shoots that you mean to train, three to 

 five inches asunder. If any shoots you leave to 

 bear, have side shoots, cut them off. 



In shortening shoots that are to be trained, cut 

 them at a leaf bud or wood bud, they are long and 

 flat, whereas fruit buds are round and swelling, or 

 cut them where two blossom buds arise at the- 

 ,srame ere, having a wood bud between them> 



