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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



its end bud will be a bloom-bud as well as those lower down, and 

 then the whole shoot is comparatively worthless, being without 

 a terminal growth-bud. 



We prune the Plums in much the same way as regards the 

 summer pinching, only leaving the leading shoots rather longer 

 and pinching the side shoots, if they develop, rather shorter. 



Pears in pots are more difficult to summer prune, and I am 

 far from sure of having arrived at the best method. Our plan, 

 roughly stated, is as follows : Pinch in all side shoots to three 

 or two leaves, unless, of course, a side shoot be now and again 

 left for the extension of the tree ; but beware of getting your 

 tree too crowded with branches — better by far have too few than 

 too many. The leader of each branch we allow to run till about 

 the end of June, when we "crack it over " at the sixth to the 

 tenth leaf, according as the variety is one that breaks into growth 

 easily from the base of the shoot or not. Josephine de Malines 

 is an example of a Pear which has the greatest possible objection 

 to break from the buds towards the base of the shoot ; she is 

 therefore "cracked over " at the sixth, or even fifth, leaf to compel 

 the lower buds to swell. Experience can alone decide which 

 varieties need stern treatment and which may be allowed more 

 license. When a Pear-tree has grown as tall as the height of your 

 house or other circumstances will admit of, do not crack its 

 leader over, but let it grow away at will, and then in the January 

 pruning cut it right out from the base. This you may continue 

 doing for several years, thus keeping your tree at full size but 

 without any expansion. 



By " cracking over " we understand not cutting the shoot off 

 or breaking it off, but with finger and thumb cracking the inner 

 wood of the shoot, breaking the bark only on one side, so that the 

 shoot hangs down from the crack, but still draws sap through 

 the uninjured side of the bark. The merit of the plan, if it has 

 any, is that the check to the shoot is not nearly so severe or 

 sudden as if it were cut right off, and the buds below are far less 

 likely to start into wood-growth. 



As soon as the young fruit on the Peaches and Nectarines (and 

 later on on the Pears and Plums) is growing well away, you will 

 want to help it in stoning. All this time we have been watering 

 the trees with clear spring-water. We now begin the process of 

 feeding the trees. We prepare a very rich compost, with which we 



