APPLES IN NURSEHY. 



19 



other, in order to form a handsome tree, it is 

 better to take off the weak shoot and cut down 

 the strong one to four or five buds, which will 

 produce quite a sufficient quantity of shoots, and 

 prevent the tree growing strong on one side and 

 weak on the other ; this having been performed, 

 will be all the pruning they will require till the 

 following summer, when those intended for stan- 

 dards will require what is called spurring in, — 

 that is, while they are in a growing state, soon 

 after Midsummer, the young shoots which they 

 throw out from the side of the tree should be 

 cut off within about an inch from the stem, ex- 

 cept about five or six at the top, which will cause 

 a general circulation of the sap, and make the 

 trees grow evidently stronger and taller during 

 the summer ; but unless they are taken before 

 they have done growing, it will be of no use, but 

 had better cut them close off to the stem towards 

 autumn, which it is necessary should be done to 

 form a head with five or six shoots. 



The trees at this age being generally about 

 three or four feet high in the stem, and commonly 

 called half standards, those wishing to plant half 



