PrtK-firal  Hints  on  Fruit  Farininij. 
time.  Thirdly,  another  object  in  pruning  is  to  increase  and 
stimulate  the  growth  of  tlie  tree,  and  to  force  it  to  become  a 
tree  as  <|uickly  as  possible,  and  for  this  reason  a long,  robust 
growth  is  oidy  shortened,  whereas  a weak  and  ])unv  shoot  is 
cut  hard  to  incite  vigour. 
From  these  remarks  it  will  be  seen  that  a skilled  pruner 
will  study  these  points  in  the  manner  suited  to  each  individual 
tree.  It  must  not  be  assumed  that  it  is  im])erative  to  cut  every 
tree  in  any  circumstance.  Some  trees,  when  they  get  a fair 
age,  make  a (juantity  of  wood  and  growth  without  producing 
fruiting  spurs  and  buds,  and  to  cut  these  rank  growths  would 
only  excite  the  growth  to  a greater  degree.  The  proper  course, 
in  such  a case,  is  to  leave  the  tree  uncut,  and  then  it  will  1 
naturally  form  fruiting  wood.  1 
The  method  of  cutting  each  shoot  must  also  be  studied.  An  t 
incision  made  half  an  inch  above  the  bud  causes  the  new  shoot  1 
to  grow  out  in  the  shape  of  a bow  from  the  bud,  so  that  if  the 
tree  requires  opening  or  extending  this  cut  is  useful.  An 
incision  below  the  bud  and  slanting  up  to  the  bud  is  a bad  cut, 
as  the  bud  having  no  nourishment  produces  a ])uny  and  weakly 
shoot,  and  the  buds  below  grow  strongly,  either  into  the  tree, 
which  is  to  be  avoided,  or  one  bud  pushes  out  below  the  weakly 
one,  and  the  shoot  has  to  be  cut  back  to  this  strong  bud — a 
method  of  treatment  which  causes  loss  of  wood  and  growth.  ' 
The  square  cut,  an  incision  level  with  the  bud,  is  a correct  one  ! 
and  will  produce  an  upright  growth.  j 
Summer  Pruning. — Summer  pruning,  a ])ractice  which  is  * 
too  often  neglected,  is  another  important  consideration.  The  | 
leading  shoot  which  was  cut  back  in  the  autumn,  not  only  j 
grows  but  other  shoots  are  thrown  out  from  some  of  the  side 
buds  below.  These  latter  should  be  ])inched  back  to  six  inches  ’ 
in  June  or  July — the  leader  being  left  untouched — and  should 
he  cut  back  close  in  the  autumn.  This  operation  is  carried  out  i 
for  three  reasons:  (1)  the  sap  originally  carried  to  the  side 
shoots  goes  to  strengthen  and  extend  the  leading  shoot,  and 
consequently  (juicken  the  growth  of  the  tree  ; (2)  the  tree  is 
made  more  open  to  light  and  air ; (3)  the  lower  buds  are 
stimulated  and  ripen  into  fruit  buds.  In  the  case  of  standards 
and  bush  trees  a side  shoot  must  be  left  sometimes  to  fill  up 
and  furnish  the  tree,  especially  when  the  tree  is  of  a spreading 
nature.  These  rules,  as  a whole,  a])ply  to  standard  and  bush 
trees  of  apples,  plums,  pears,  and  cherries,  with  a few  exceptions, 
which  are  given  below. 
