BUDDING, GKAFITNG, ETC. 



189 



rhis removes the buds that would push first, and retains 

 the sap in the lower parts, which 

 will give a stout body. The taller 

 and more slender the tree, and 

 the smaller the buds, the farther 

 it becomes necessary to cut back. 

 In fact, some very feeble growing 

 sorts must be cut back till within 

 a foot or less of the base. Dur- 

 ing the summer, trees cut back in 

 this way may produce lateral 

 shoots on the greater part of their 

 length. These must not be pruned 

 off, but kept in an uniform size 

 and vigor, by pinching any that 

 threaten to exceed their proper 

 bounds. The shoots immediately 

 below the leader, must be watch- 

 ed, as they are always inclined to 

 push too strongly. 



A tree thus cut back, and the 

 side branches regulated by pinch- 

 ing, will, in the fall, have a stout 

 body, and present the appearance 

 of fig. 89. Where the yearlings 

 are short and stout, and are fur- 

 nished with a few lateral shoots, cutting back may be 

 unnecessary. The largest of the side shoots may be 

 pruned off wholly, and the small ones left to retain the 

 sap in the lower part of the stem, at least till midsummer, 

 when new ones will have been produced. There are cer- 

 tain stout-growing, branching varieties of all the fruits 

 that require no shortening and very little pruning of any 

 kind, to form stout trunks, and especially when not 

 planted too close. 



Fig 



a y 'iling tree ; from the 

 bud A, indie? .-\tbe cutting back to 

 make a stoui «< jaa for a standard. B 

 and C, the ^uiimg back for pyra- 

 mids or low 4ii,P;dards. D, the cut- 

 ting back Jor <iwarfs or espaliers. 

 Fig. 89, a' ycxLPx tree once cut back 

 to form trunk / jr a standard. 



