122 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



two after being planted. If it is allowed to grow ahead without 

 any check the growth will in most cases be unequal and crowded. 

 But the early summer pruning of these open-air trees is a 

 decided mistake, for when pruned or pinched early secondary 

 growths will almost certainly follow, and these cannot possibly 

 have time to become well-ripened wood, so as to enable their 

 being retained as permanent shoots. Occasionally a shoot may 

 require checking early in the season, but only on quite young 

 trees, which may perhaps have a shoot or two growing too 

 strongly ahead, while the weaker are naturally suffering for it, 

 or at least being checked in their progress of assisting in forming 

 a well-balanced tree. Trees which are being allowed to form a 

 semi-extended habit should not require pruning before the end 

 of August, and the amount necessary will, of course, be 

 determined by the kind of stock the trees are grafted upon. 

 Where Apples on a free stock and Pears on the Pear stock are 

 allowed to have freedom of growth, they early become of fruitful 

 habit, which they retain without making gross growth. At 

 the end of August the growths will have become of a woody 

 nature, and then any spare shoots, and those likely to crowd 

 the centres, and so prevent light and air from having free 

 access, should be pruned-in to three leaves. Any extending 

 leaders which are growing too freely must also be shortened. 

 The style of tree will indicate the amount of pruning neces- 

 sary. The time for removing any solid branches which are 

 crowding up the centre will depend principally upon the fruit 

 hanging upon them, as no one would think of removing 

 them until the fruit is all gathered. This is the time when 

 all bush or pyramid trees should have a general overhauling, as 

 any crowded branches may then be seen at a glance, and should 

 be removed forthwith. The wounds quickly heal over, and the 

 remaining branches would derive the benefit of the extra sun- 

 light and air. This pruning must take place before the leaves 

 fall, to be of any real benefit. 



As regards Cherries and Plums, the thinning or pruning 

 necessary for them will resolve itself more into thinning out any 

 crowded branches and shortening rampant leaders, than to 

 regular pruning, and by this course the trees will be enabled to 

 become more fruitful than where close pruning is rigidly adhered 

 to. By pruning during the month of September the wounds 



