92 



sequently, a very large angle in the centre. These 

 leading branches are never shortened. Late in the 

 first autumn all the buds are removed except three, one 

 of which is terminal, the other two are at equal dis- 

 tances on opposite sides of the shoot, the one on the 

 outside being nearest the stem. The growth of the 

 second summer lengthens the shoots in their original 

 direction, and produces one from each of the reserved 

 buds. At the beginning of the second winter, the 

 leading shoots are again laid in at full length ; the 

 side shoots are shortened about one-third ; and, as 

 before, only three buds are allowed to remain. After 

 the lapse of another year, the tree has assumed the 

 following appearance (Fig. 6). Fig. 7 represents a side 



Fig. 6. Fig. 7. 



shoot, after being shortened and disbudded. The 

 same process is continually repeated. The mother- 

 branches grow on in a straight line, and those on the 

 sides pass into subordinate members. This method 

 proceeds upon the position, that fruit-trees are more 

 weakened than strengthened by pruning. Sieulle was 

 led to this conclusion by observing the effects of shears 



