100 



the leading shoot to extend itself. At the second 

 spring-pruning, the centre shoot is again cut to three 

 eyes ; or, if the tree be very vigorous, five eyes may 

 be left ; two for each side, and a centre one for again 

 furnishing the leading shoots. The leading shoots 

 are laid in in the fan form, nine or ten inches from 

 each other; the shoots on the leading branch are 

 nailed to the wall in summer, but after the winter's 

 pruning they are tied to the leading shoots with 

 strands of matting ; thus keeping the space between 

 the leading shoots clear, for the succeeding summer's 

 shoots to be nailed in, where they get well ripened, 

 and mature their buds for another crop. At the 

 winter's pruning they are cut to three or four inches, 

 according to their strength, as in fig. 12, a. The 



Fig. 12. 



maiden plant being headed down, the first winter will 

 present two side shoots, and the upright shoot short- 

 ened to three buds (5) ; the second year, at the end 

 of summer, there will be four side shoots, and six or 

 more laterals (c) ; in the following spring-pruning, 

 the laterals (c^), which had been nailed to the wall, 

 are loosened and tied to their main shoot (e), and the 



