THE LORETTE SYSTEM OF PRUNING, 
273 
buds. A single cutting straight back to the basal cluster may some- 
times succeed. One shoot may be guided upward for the continu- 
ation and others selected for retention and equalization as may be 
required. Botanically, of course, the leaves are not exactly at the 
same level, for they do not form a " whorl." 
Results. — Of the results obtained by these pruning methods 
in M. Lorette's plantations there could be no question, and the 
figures in his book were no exaggeration of the prodigious fruiting of 
the trees when I saw them. The two old pyramids,* one of which 
had been submitted to the " Taille Lorette," were perhaps the most 
striking of all (fig. 42). From tentative operations on a few trees I 
have passed to treating practically all my available trees on the method, 
and am in course of training others. Other writers, as Coutant and 
MosER,have expressed their contentment; the former is treating 20,000 
trees on the plan. All that one need say is : " Make trial on a few trees, 
and if all seems good, do more." It is particularly on trees that refuse 
to fruit, blossom, or that have a habit of taking holiday seasons, that 
trial may especially be suggested. Even if the whole scheme be not 
entertained, the application of the basal cluster cut is worth trial for 
gross wood shoots (" gourmands "), and is less work than the implanta- 
tion of blossom buds. M. Lorette told me that about a quarter of 
an hour was needed to trim one of his full-sized winged pyramids. In 
irregular growths such as are so common, bush and ill-trained dwarf 
standards, the pruning will be somewhat lengthy, if indeed practicable, 
until some law and order has been established. Certainly the develop- 
ment of dard and fruit -buds seems to follow the descriptions ; and it 
may be observed how like a bourse or knob is the swollen basal part 
of a shoot after the cut to the basal cluster. I have already noted 
that practically any variety of Apple or Pear seems to be amenable 
to the system. 
Quince Tree. — Of this I hardly like to say much, as I have been 
working rather in the dark upon three young cordons " en espalier " 
without any definite instructions from the master. The Quince 
bears on new wood and the shoots are devoid of a " basal cluster." 
The shoots when about 12 to 18 inches long have been taken back to 
the first or second leaf ; where bifurcations occur the nearest shoot to 
the main stem has alone been left. Where cuttings are needed to 
prevent overcrowding and to let in light and air, a sap sucker is left 
until basal shoots develop. Blossoming has been good and free, but 
white mildew has caused a good deal of promise to " miff off " in an 
unpleasant manner. Repeated " lime sulphur " wash at 1 per hundred 
has perhaps saved the half-dozen fruits that have apparently become 
well set this season. My hope is to establish cluster blooms, like the 
" Bouquets de Mai " of the Peach, Plum, and Cherry ; as also occur 
on Cydonia japonica. 
Peach Tree. — Of these I have no personal experience beyond the 
inspection of M. Lorette's trees, which certainly demonstrated his 
* Vide 2nd ed. p. 105. 
