THE APPLE AKD THE PEAK. 



213 



him a most reasonable hope of attaining his ends. "We 

 now proceed to the 



Summer management of trees thus cut hack. — We will 

 first consider the case of the yearling without branches. 

 If it has been cut low enough, as directed, all the buds 

 below the cut will push. As a space of six inches should 

 be kept clear between the ground and the first or lowest 

 tier of branches, such shoots as may appear on that 

 part will be rubbed off at once. Of the remaining ones, 

 a certain number, three to six, according to the length of 

 the stem, will be reserved. These must be the strongest, 

 and properly situated on the stem, within eight to ten 

 inches of space between each branch, and that immedi- 

 ately above it, and regularly placed on all sides of the 

 stem. Some recommend leaving on all the shoots that 

 are produced the first season ; but in certain cases this 

 would be bad practice, for if the buds be very close, the 

 shoots would be so numerous that the strength of them 

 all would be impaired, and much pruning would be 

 required the next season. The better way is to select 

 such as are wanted, and rub off the others ; the sap which 

 they would have appropriated will be turned to the 

 account of the permanent branches, and increase their 

 vigor. The leading shoot must be directed in a straight 

 line ; in some cases a support may be necessary. If the 

 branches immediately below it are so vigorous as to inter- 

 fere with its growth, they must be checked by pinching. 

 In some cases it may be necessary to do this when they 

 are an inch or two in length. It sometimes occurs that 

 the bud cut to is injured by the weather, close cutting, 

 or some other cause^ and pushes so feebly that the laterals 

 below it having more vigor take the lead. This must be 

 prevented in time. A proper relative degree of vigor 

 Ijiust be maintained among all the branches, by checking 

 when necessary the most vigorous. 



