268 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
of events from the concentration of sap the basal cluster region often 
becomes swollen and looks much like a " knob," and with the in- 
creased nourishment one or more dards may make their appearance. 
At this pruning it is well to give special attention to the " knobs/' 
on which any single wood-shoot should be cut back to basal leaves, 
although there will probably be dards or fruit-buds at their apparent bases ; 
if there should be many such shoots on a knob, the least vigorous is 
left with a couple of eyed-leaves, while the rest are completely re- 
moved ; otherwise too much crowding will ensue. 
Besides there will be a number of shoots which have not yet 
acquired sufficient size and consistence ; these will be left to wait till 
next month, and are dealt with in the July (or July /August) pruning, 
when they, as well as any other shoots that have become sufficiently 
ripened, are dealt with on the lines that have already been laid down. 
Attention must be given to secondary shoots if any are sufficiently 
woody ; they are removed with care to preserve the leaf whose bud 
gave them origin. Also, heed must be given lest side-shoots should 
rob the leader. Some writers apparently leave this pruning aside 
and await the August (or August /September) pruning, which is 
only a repetition of the process as regards both new shoots and 
secondary shoots. Lorette regards the August pruning as one of 
great importance, for the sap is thickening and slackening ; so that if 
the season be a wet one, the pruning should be delayed, but if dry and 
hot, it may be begun early in the month. 
September pruning brings the treatment to its end for the season, 
so that when finished the trees are not touched with the secateurs 
till the following spring.* 
First of all, there will be a number of shoots to cut back to their 
basal clusters, and as growth has practically ceased no distinction is 
to be made between them, excepting only thin twiggy ones known as 
" brindilles." These may be left, but care must be taken not to retain 
too many, for they easily cause overcrowding. Those that are kept are 
best bent or bowed downwards (" down-bend ") (fig. 37) to favour the 
formation of fruit-buds on them. This occurs naturally if a fruit is 
borne at the end (" brindille couronnee "). For the rest a general 
clearance is done, and wherever a good fruit -bud has formed the cut 
is made right back to it, otherwise the cut is " sur empatement/'f 
The fruit-bud, with five or six leaves in its cluster and some sign of 
cross-fissuring of its back, is fixed and will not turn into a wood-shoot. 
InM. Lorette 'swords (private correspondence, July 1914) : " Suppres- 
* There is one small exception to this, as thinning of compound spurs is 
advised for November ; five fruit buds should be left, and not only one or two 
as some writers recommend. Certainly the thinning out of spurs even to two 
or three on old trees seems to have a favourable effect. 
t Note, July 1 91 8. The cut back to a fruiting organ in September seemed quite a 
novel procedure. However, I find that J. J. Thomas ( The American Fruit Culturist, 
New York, 1867, p. 240) recommends stopping or pinching of side shoots during 
the summer, and in conclusion writes : " Early in autumn the shortened shoots are 
to be cut down, leaving the fruit-buds, only, to bear the next season. By this 
regularity of pruning, the tree will preserve a neat appearance, and bear regular 
crops." 
