26 Pruning Fruit Trees. [april, 



We may summarize the pruning of the apple as follows :— 



(1) With the exception of a few, the varieties are spur and 

 ripe wood bearers. 



(2) The best type of tree is an open bush with about a dozen 

 main branches growing upwards and outwards, well clear 

 of each other. 



(3) Leading shoots should not be severely curbed, but allowed 

 moderate extension. 



(4) Breast- wood may be summer pruned at the sixth leaf. 



(5) Winter pruning may be done from November to March 

 inclusive, and the shoots may be cut back to about an inch. 



(6) In pruning, extension shoots should be cut close to an 

 outside bud. 



(7) In case of great luxuriance of growth, accompanied by 

 non-flowering, the roots should be pruned. The roots half-way 

 round the tree may be done first, and, if that does not Suffice, 

 the circle may be completed the following winter. 



Apricots. — These are almost exclusively grown on walls. 

 They must be shortened when young to secure a framework 

 on somewhat the same line as peaches.* As the wood matures 

 it will form fruiting spurs natural!} 7 , but it will also form 

 shoots intermediate in character between spurs and breast- 

 wood, which are termed by gardeners " stabs." If quite short 

 they may be left untouched ; if they run to six or eight inches 

 long they may be stopped. In both cases they will form fruit 

 buds near the base. The breast-wood must be kept under 

 control. Where there is room a few of the best placed of the 

 summer shoots may be tied in, but the majority should be 

 summer pruned and then spurred in during winter. 



Cherries. — Heart or Bigarreau Cherries are spur-bearers ; 

 the Morello is a young wood-bearer. Heart Cherries should 

 require very little pruning ; indeed, it is an advantage if the 

 knife can be kept away from them altogether, because pruning 

 is frequently followed by an exudation of gum. If care is 

 taken in shaping the trees while young, and the soil is not 

 very rich but well impregnated with lime, the trees rarely 

 become crowded. Should they threaten to become thick 

 the grower will be well advised to thin them while they are 

 in leaf, as, owing to the free distribution and vigorous circula- 



See " The Pruning of the Peach, ' : Journal, Vol. XIV, p. 661, February, 1908. 



