PRUNING AND TRAINING. 



27 



Suppress very early the herbaceous extremities of the 

 strong part, hut practise the suppression as late as possible 

 upon the weak part ; taking off only the most vigorous 

 shoots, and those that must in any case be removed on 

 account of the positions they occupy. This arrests the 

 vegetation of the strong part ; it is applicable both to 

 standards and espaliers. 



Nail up very early, and very close to the wall or trellis, 

 the strong part, but delay doing so to the weak part ; we 

 thus retard the circulation towards the first, and 

 promote it towards the second. This is only practi- 

 cable for espaliers and wall trees. 



Suppress a number of the leaves upon the strong side. 

 By removing a portion of the leaves on that side of 

 the tree, we impede the sap, and prevent its too abun- 

 dant flow in that direction. It will be necessary to 

 suppress only a number of leaves proportionate to the 

 difference in vigour of the two sides of the tree, and 

 to choose those upon the most vigorous branches. 

 The leaves must not be torn off, but cut, leaving the 

 petiole, or leaf- stem, upon the branch. 



Allow as large a quantity of the fruit as possible to 

 remain upon the strong side, and suppress all upon the 

 weak side. We have already explained that the fruit 

 has the property of drawing to itself the sap from the 

 roots, and of absorbing it entirely in its growth; by 

 this means, all the sap drawn to the strong side will 

 be absorbed by the fruits, and that part will be less 

 developed than the weak side. 



Soften all the green parts on the weak side with a solu* 

 tion of sulphate of iron. This solution, in a proportion 



c2 



