1904.] Pruning Fruit Trees and Bushes. 



527 



quickly as possible when not begun before August, and complete 

 pruning would delay it. 



In pruning trees that have been stunted by premature 

 fruiting or poverty of soil, it is necessary to cut back their 

 branches somewhat severely, manuring them well at the same 

 time, or early in the spring. It happens sometimes, particularly 

 in cases of weak-growing apples on the paradise stock or pears 

 on the quince, that the branches are profusely studded with 

 fruit spurs and fruit buds, while the trees show no signs of 

 extension. In such cases the only remedy is to cut back to a 

 wood bud, even if the trees are reduced to little more than their 

 stems and a few stumpy branches in the process. Similarly, in 

 relation to plum trees, stunted trees or parts of trees are often 

 to be noticed with masses of mere twigs, often curled in shape, 

 •where extending branches should be found. In such cases, 

 again, the only remedy is to cut back to a bud on firm and 

 ripe wood. 



Pear trees, after they have once been shaped, require but 

 little cutting beyond the thinning out of crowding shoots. 

 But some varieties of upright habit should have their outside 

 shoots cut back slightly to buds pointing outwards for a few 

 years after planting them. 



This is the case also with cherry trees, except that they 

 require thinning alone, as a rule, after the first or second year, 

 as they are naturally of a spreading habit of growth. 



Reference has been made to shoots dying off below the point 

 of pruning. These dead snags should be shaved closely off in 

 order that bark may be induced to grow over the cut places. 

 If left, the decay in them will penetrate into the branches to 

 which they are attached. 



Damsons, when planted as shelter trees, are often left to grow 

 wild. Unless they are properly pruned for a few years after 

 planting, however, they become thickets, and produce hardly 

 any fruit. They require the same treatment as plums, except 

 that their branches may be allowed to be more thickly dis- 

 posed. 



The pruning of gooseberry bushes after the first season, already 

 referred to, consists chiefly in cutting out dense interior growth, 

 and trimming pendulous shoots back to a bud pointing upwards. 



