378 



WEEDING. 



spur sometimes continues slowly to elongate for years before it produces 

 fruit. As the strongest shoots are obtained from buds near the bases of 

 shoots, and as all horizontally trained branches grow weak compared with 

 those that have a more vertical position, it follows that all horizontal branches 

 and those approaching that direction should be obtained, as far as circum- 

 stances will permit, from buds situated near the base. Hence in horizontal 

 training, say a foot apart between the tiers of branches, it is not well to 

 encourage two tiers in the same season ; for in that case the tier that pro- 

 ceeds from buds two feet from the base of the current year's shoot, has a 

 much less substantial origin than those that are produced from buds only 

 a foot from the base. The formation of two tiers should therefore never 

 be attempted whilst the lower part of the wall is being furnished ; for the 

 lower horizontals have a tendency to become ultimately weak, and on this 

 account it is requisite that their origin should be well established. Towards 

 the top of the tree, where the sap flows with greater force, two tiers are less 

 objectionable. According to the principles of Seymour's training, the ori- 

 ginating of the side branches from buds near the base of the vertical central 

 shoot is well provided for, and this ought to be kept in view in every mode 

 of training adopted. In order to furnish well the lower part of a tree, it is 

 necessary to procure strong branches, and these can be best obtained from 

 the lower part of a strong central shoot ; and in order that this shoot may 

 have sufficient strength, it must have a vertical position. If no central 

 shoot is retained, one of three evils must result : either the central pai t 

 must remain open as the tree increases, with half fans on each side ; or a 

 shoot to produce others to fill the centre must be encouraged from one side, 

 thus upsetting the balance of the tree ; or, to avoid this, two or more vertical 

 or nearly vertical shoots must be allowed, the divarications from which 

 cannot be kept clear of each other, whilst likewise a great proportion of 

 shoots must inevitably be placed nearly or quite perpendicular, relatively 

 with which the horizontal branches below are situated at an infinite disad- 

 vantage as regards the distribution of sap. Trees commenced to be trained 

 in nurseries have often the objectionable form imposed upon them of an open 

 centre, being deprived of an upright shoot and set off^ like a V ; and similarly 

 objectionable are the Montreuil and other modes on the same principle. 

 With skilful management, these modes do succeed in France ; but in the 

 rich soil and humid climate of Britain, the flow of sap cannot be equalised 

 by any mode that admits of a competition between vertical and horizontal 

 branches. One upright is necessary for furnishing side branches ; but being 

 annually cut back for this purpose, it does not gain any increasing ascend- 

 ency, and forms but a slight exception to the whole flow of sap being 

 directed to the growth of the side branches ; and in consequence of this, 

 these branches will become so well established, that they will be capable of 

 receiving a due share of sap to enable them to continue healthy, instead of 

 dying off^, as is their tendency when the vigour of the tree is wasted in 

 exuberant wood induced by permitting shoots, either intentionally or through 

 neglect, to follow their natural disposition to grow up into stems, wherever 

 they can avail themselves of a favourable, that is, an upright position, for 

 appropriating an abundant supply of sap. {Gard. Mag. 1842.) 



§ XI. — Weeding. 



813, A weed is any plant which comes up in a situation where it is not 



