528 Pruning Fruit Trees and Bushes. [dec, 



There is a strong difference of opinion as to the advisability of 

 spurring the lateral growths of the main shoots. If this is 

 done, the laterals should be cut back to two or three buds of 

 their bases ; but some of the best growers prefer to shave them 

 off entirely. As the bushes grow old, some of the laterals 

 may be needed in full extension to replace dead or moribund 

 branches. 



Red and white currant bushes require a good deal of pruning 

 after sufficient branches of fair length have been formed. In 

 that case it is desirable in June to shorten all side growths not 

 needed to fill up gaps, cutting them further back to within two 

 buds of the main branches in the autumn, when the leaders also 

 must be shortened. Until the bushes are four feet high the 

 shortening of the main shoots may be within six to nine inches 

 of the old wood, according to the length of each in proportion 

 to others ; afterwords to two or three buds. The pruning of 

 black currants has already been described. 



Raspberries in field culture are grown without stakes, and,, 

 therefore, must not be allowed to grow too high. After the first 

 season the young wood may be shortened to four feet from the 

 ground. This, with the cutting out close to the ground of the 

 last year's canes every autumn, is all the pruning required. 



It is important to bear in mind that a good knife, kept 

 thoroughly sharp, should be used for pruning, as jagged cuts do 

 not heal properly, and are liable to lead to canker in apples and 

 pears or gumming in plums and cherries. 



This article deals only with trees and bushes grown in planta- 

 tions for market purposes, and therefore does not cover the 

 training and pruning of cordons, espaliers, or wall fruit. 



It may be noted that in the article on Tree Planting in last 

 month's number, the diagonal planting of the trees illustrated in 

 the diagram headed " Trees Angled " can be more clearly seen 

 if the diagram is turned half round. 



William E. Bear. 



