104 



tained along with the fruit that is left. By so doing, 

 we are only growing the shoot that we shall want next 

 year for bearing fruit, which gives the trees an oppor- 

 tunity of extending themselves, and making good 

 wood. Instead of taking off the summer laterals or 

 water-shoots (as they are sometimes called), as is 

 generally done, lay them in at regular distances, the 

 same as a natural spring shoot ; and, if they do not 

 bear fruit the next summer, they will produce fine 

 bearing-wood for a future year ; so that you have not 

 to shorten those strong shoots, but lay them in their 

 whole length for main or secondary leading branches. 

 When the young shoots at the base of the fruit- 

 bearing ones, or the extending part of the leading 

 branches, have grown 4 or 5 inches, tie them down 

 to the other branches as close as they will admit with- 

 out breaking or pinching them, and keep them close 

 to the wall through the summer. By this means 

 they will get perfectly ripe and firm, and not be so 

 luxuriant as when permitted to grow from the wall 

 almost wild ; and the fruit must, of course, be larger 

 when the wood is thin, than when it is permitted to 

 grow twice as large as is necessary. There will be 

 found, when disbudding, at the base of the shoots 

 small buds that are not likely to make a shoot that 

 season, but they must be retained, as they will pro- 

 duce a shoot in a future year, and then bring your 

 young wood nearer home. {Ibid. vi. 435.) 



