1909.] Habits of Growth in Apple Trees. 



199 



for some years after planting, the distances of trees from each 

 other in the same plantation cannot well be varied in relation 

 to compact or spreading habits of growth. There is, however, 

 quite enough choice among varieties of apples or plums for 

 the selection of a set of similar habits of growth to plant in 

 any single field, and then the distances in different planta- 

 tions can be varied accordingly. For example, in the case of 

 bush-shaped apple trees — and half standards require but little 

 if any more room — where gooseberries or currants are to be 

 planted between them, a set of upright growers can be placed 

 10 ft. apart in each direction in one field, those of medium 

 growth 12 ft. in a second field, and strong growers of spread- 

 ing habit 14 ft. in a third, the distances of the bushes from 

 trees and from each other in the rows varying in the same 

 order from 5 to 6 and 7 ft. Where horse cultivation is not to 

 be pursued, these variations in distances of planting may be 

 made on the same piece of land. 



Pruning. — In connection with pruning, the habits of growth 

 of trees necessitate differences in the degree of severity in cut- 

 ting them back, particularly in their early stage of develop- 

 ment; in the amount of thinning of internal shoots required; 

 and in the direction of wood-buds, from which the growth of 

 future branches is to be encouraged. Feeble growers, which 

 are usually disposed to fruit prematurely, to their permanent 

 dwarfing, or which form naturally slender branches which will 

 not properly bear the weight of their fruit, require to be 

 somewhat severely pruned until they have become well fur- 

 nished with sturdy branches. On the other hand, sturdy 

 growers, excepting those which tend to produce branches too 

 thinly disposed, need much less cutting back. Similarly, a 

 variety of upright habit should be pruned just above buds 

 pointing outwards as a rule, and often requires to have inside 

 laterals shaved closely off the main branches; while a tree pf 

 spreading habit often needs to be pruned above a bud pointing 

 upwards, and some of its internal growths may usually be left 

 to form branches, others being spurred instead of being closely 

 shaven. There are yet other varieties which send out shoots 

 in all directions, so that they develop a tangled mass of cross- 

 ing branches, keeping sunshine and air from their interiors 

 unless severely thinned, in strong contrast to those which 



