THE APPLE AND THE PEAK. 



215 



form. They should also be cut back sufBciently to insure 

 the growth of all the buds on them. This point requires 

 considerable care, for if not cut back enough, the interior 

 of the trees becomes naked, instead of being supplied with 

 shoots for bearing spurs; and if cut back too far, the 

 shoots will be too vigorous and difficult to control. The 

 appearance of the buds, and the habits of the variety, 

 will be a sufficient guide if properly studied. 



Treatment of the growing shoots. — ^When the buds have 

 all started and made a growth of an inch or two, their 

 force and forwardness will indicate the uses to be made 

 of them. Each of the main branches of the first section . 

 may be considered as a stem ; its leader will require the 

 same treatment to favor its extension. At this time a 

 secondary branch may be required to fill up the space 

 which widens as the branches extend. If so, a shoot is 

 selected for this purpose, and all the others on the same 

 branch are checked at two inches, and converted into 

 fruit branches. All the laterals are treated in this way. 

 The second section, now in process of formation, must be 

 managed as directed for the first section. During the 

 first season, the requisite number of shoots is preserved, 

 ana the superfluous ones removed early. The leader is 

 maintained erect ; and the laterals immediately below it, 

 being always inclined to vigorous growth, must be checked 

 to keep them in a proper condition relative to the leader 

 and the branches below them. The leading shoot must 

 always maintain its pre-eminence. It often happens that 

 the lateral shoots of the main branches that have been 

 pinched will start and grow again. In such cases an- 

 other pinching must be performed within an inch of the 

 previous one. As a general thing, this will be sufficient ; 

 but if not, a third must be given in the same way ; for if . 

 they be allowed to extend into wood branches they will 

 require knife pruning, and create confusion among all 



