108 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



One thing stands out quite clearly from the figures in Tables II. to 

 XI. — the greater growth produced in their first year by apples pruned 

 in the season of planting compared with those of the same age and 

 size, and of the same variety, on the same stock not so pruned. 

 Variety appears to make little difference in the result, either in that 

 year or in the two years succeeding. 



In Table XII. the average growth of the different sets of trees is 

 brought together. 



This Table clearly indicates that the kind 01 stock used makes a 

 difference in the results, for while the average growth was in all cases 

 greater in the first year in the trees pruned in the season of planting 

 than in those not pruned, the average increase (79 per cent.) shown 

 among the trees on Paradise stock is far greater than in the trees on 

 Crab stock (34 per cent.). The results would perhaps be more satis- 

 factory if each variety tried had been represented on both stocks, but 

 in the two cases of ' Ribston Pippin ' and ' Peasgood's Nonesuch ' 

 where this comparison can be made the contrast is remarkably 

 striking. 



In the second year, among the trees on Paradise stock, in every 

 case there was a greater growth on the trees pruned in the season of 

 planting than on the others, but the difference was far less marked 

 than in the first season, the average difference being 26 per cent., 

 while in the third year the same difference held a little less strongly 

 in some varieties, a little more in others (23 per cent.). 



Turning to the second year's record of the trees on Crab stock, 

 we find in three out of the five varieties greater average growth in 

 the trees not pruned in the season of planting, in some cases much 

 greater growth, so that the average growth of the trees on Crab stock 

 pruned in the season of planting fell behind the others by 9 per 

 cent., while in the third year in every case the average growth 

 of the trees pruned in the season of planting fell somewhat behind 

 those not pruned (9 per cent.), but was generally more nearly 

 equal. 



The results obtained by the experiment lead to the conclusion 

 that all varieties of apples grow better in the first season, if they are 

 pruned in the season of planting, than if left unpruned, and that the 

 check imposed by neglect of pruning is felt by trees on Paradise 

 stock for at least three years after planting, while trees on Crab 

 stock appear to recover more quickly, and perhaps even to gain 

 slightly in their second and third years. 



The majority of apple-trees are now grown as dwarfs on Paradise 

 stocks, and, bearing in mind the need for speedily laying a good founda- 

 tion for a sound tree, the importance of pruning these in the season 

 of planting is clearly indicated. Trees on Crab stock apparently show 

 a greater power of recovery from the check, but even with these 

 the first year's growth is important, and is not likely to be recovered 



