TRAINING. 



43 



way up the stem ; there must also be one shoot on the undermost side, 

 placed about midway between the other two. All the other shoots must 

 be pinched off in tlieii- infant state. The tree will then assume, at 

 the end of the year, the appearance shown in Fig. 27. From this tmie 

 it may be allowed to bear 

 what crop of fruit the gar- 

 dener thinks it able to carry ; 

 in determining which he 

 ought never to overrate the 

 vigor of the tree. All of 

 these shoots except the lead- 

 ing ones must at the pro- 

 per season be shortened, but 

 to what length must be left 

 entirely to the judgment of 



the gardener, it of course Fan-training, third stage. 



depending upon the vigor of the tree. In shortening the shoot, care 

 should be taken to cut back to a wood-bud that will produce a shoot 

 for the follo^ving year. Cut close to the bud, so that the wound may 

 heal the following season. The following year each shoot at the 

 extremities of the leading branches should prod\ice, besides the leading 

 shoot, one on the upper and two on the under part, more or less, accord- 

 ing to the vigor of the tree ; whilst each of the secondary branches should 

 produce, besides the leading shoot, one other placed near to the bottom ; 

 for the grand art of pruning, in all systems to which this class of trees is 

 subjected, consists in preserving a sufficient quantity of young wood at 

 the bottom of the tree ; and on no account must the gardener cut away 

 clean any shoots so placed, without well considering if they will be 

 wanted, not only for the present but for the future good appearance of 

 the tree. The quantity of young wood annually laid in must depend upon 



Fan-training, complete. 



the vigor of the tree. It would be ridiculous to lay the same quantity 

 into a weakly tree as into a tree in full vigor. The gardener here must 

 use his own judgment. But if any of the leading shoots manifest a dis- 

 position to outstrip the others, a portion of young shoots must be laid in, 

 and a greater quantity of fruit suffered to ripen on the over-vigorous 

 branch. At the same time a smaller quantity of fruit than usual must 



