32 



FRUIT TREES. 



the sap to concentrate its action upon the development 

 of new wood. 



Practise the winter pruning very late in spring, 

 when the shoots have obtained a length of 1^ inch. 

 It results from this late pruning, that a greater portion 

 of the sap is dispersed to the advantage of the other 

 parts of the branches. These being at this moment 

 checked, the shoots at the base push less vigorously 

 than if that loss of sap had not taken place, and are more 

 easily put into fruit-bearing. This mode of operating, 

 and also the following, should not be resorted to, ex- 

 cept for trees of such vigour that the preceding methods 

 have proved insufficient to put them in fruit-bearing. 



Apply to the larger branches a certain numher of 

 Girardin's side grafts (figs. 19 to 22). These fruit- 

 spur grafts when fruiting will absorb a considerable 

 part of the superabundant sap. We shall see from this 

 time a considerable number of flower-buds form them- 

 selves upon the trees. This method is only to be 

 employed for pépin fruits. 



Arch all the branches, so that a part of their extent be 

 directed toicards the sun. The sap acts with more force 

 upon the development of shoots if they are attached to 

 branches growing in the nearest approach to a vertical 

 line ; it follows, therefore, that arching the branches 

 tends to diminish their vigour, and promotes fruit- 

 bearing. When this result has been obtained, it will 

 be advisable to replace these branches in their former 

 position, lest the tree become exhausted by a super- 

 abundant production of fruit. Fig. 28 is a pyramidal 

 tree with the branches arched. 



