274 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
contentions. Here side by side were trees on the 'classic 'and on his 
system of treatment. In a few words he suppresses summer pinching 
entirely, and controls by snipping off some half to two-thirds of each 
leaf on the basal parts of the shoots (say about 12 to 20 or more inches) 
which are destined to bear next year. The tendency of premature 
development of secondary shoots is thereby prevented, and the forma- 
tion of cluster blossoms ("Bouquets de Mai") is favoured. It may 
be noted that leaf-snipping on a less extensive scale is mentioned by 
Du Breuil. The formation of these cluster blooms is particularly 
desired by our friends across the Channel, and I have intended to 
treat a Morello Cherry on these lines, in the hope of getting it well 
furnished with bouquets and thereby reducing the labours upon it, 
but so far the intention has not been carried out. It will be noted 
that pinching tends to throw sap into the basal eyes and so provoke 
premature shootings. The two effects, namely, inhibition of the 
formation of premature wood shoots and abundance of blossom 
bunches which had formed fruit, were well shown on his trees. 
Inspection of old and unpruned Plum or Cherry trees shows that 
practically all the blossom is in the cluster form, and if these can be 
artificially favoured less work may be entailed for continued fruit 
production. 
Gooseberries and Red Currants.- — Usually these are pruned after 
the fall of the leaf. Lorette's plan, which I understand is sometimes 
practised in this country, is to do the annual pruning in the green 
directly after the crop is off, or if picked green when it would have 
ripened. This pruning, towards the end of July or early in August, 
tends to throw sap into the buds for next year's crop. The plants 
which I have treated are mostly " en espalier " on an east wall, 
and the plan adopted has been to pinch or break off all sturdy shoots 
when four leaves have become fully developed or six on weaker ones 
(excepting thin twiggy ones which are left) ; in July /August all 
side shoots are cut so as to leave one, or at most two, leaves ; Lorette 
puts it at "a few eyes." In this way the thorns disappear as the 
wood gets old, and yet the buds continue to produce. The figures 
show that two years of this treatment have not depleted the bushes, 
fig. 43 shows the blossom on Red Currant " Comet," and fig. 44 shows 
fruit on Gooseberry "Telegraph." When training Gooseberries, it is 
important not to let subterminal shoots rob that which is the main 
leader ■ — at any rate if indiscriminate forkings and branchings are to 
be avoided. The Black Currant might also receive its orthodox 
pruning about the same time. 
Conclusion. — Whilst, generally, summer treatments are of value 
in a more or less subsidiary way, in that the trees are well looked 
over, and consequently any disorder or pest is likely to be observed, 
Lorette's methods, in which the visits are more frequently repeated 
and the trees thoroughly inspected each time, give an enhanced 
position for this point in fruit-growing. 
Finally, I feel sure that you will all be full of hope that Monsieur 
