26 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [Jan, 
they producing their fruit upon short natural spurs from the sides 
and ends of the branches, and the same branches continue bearing 
for many years, increasing their quantity of fruit spurs as they gra- 
dually advance in length; let it therefore be remarked, that in the 
general course of pruning those trees, their branches and shoots are 
not to be shortened, but generally trained along horizontally to the 
espalier and wall, at their natural length, at least as far as there is 
scope of room to extend them; never shortened except on particu- 
lar occasions, below explained: and the whole trained four to five 
or six inches asunder. 
Keeping therefore this in mind, look over the general branches, 
in which observe, that in such advancing young trees as are still in 
training, requiring a farther supply of young wood to form the head, 
be careful to select and retain a proper quantity of the best-placed 
last summer's shoots at full length, and generally a terminal shoot 
to each mother branch; and cut out all the superfluous and irregu- 
lar ones; but, in full-trained or old trees, still retaining the former 
trained or same individual bearing branches for many years, as long 
as they continue fruitful; and only examine any particular branches 
that appear worn out or decayed, or any that are too much crowded 
or very irregular, and let such be now pruned out; at the same 
time observe where any of the last summer's shoots are wanted to 
supply vacant spaces, and retain them accordingly; cutting out all 
the superfluous or over abundant, close to the main branches; like- 
wise, let all fore right and other irregular-placed shoots be cut away; 
carefully retaining the leading shoot to all the main branches, where 
there is a scope to run them; so retaining the general branches and 
the necessary supply of young wood, about four to five or six inches 
asunder, to be trained to the trellis or wall, &c. all at their full 
length, as aforesaid; and, according as they advance in length, still 
continue extending them, or without shortening, at least as far as 
their limited space admits. 
In the course of this pruning, have particular care to preserve 
all the natural fruit-spurs; but cut away all those formed of the 
remaining stumps of shortened shoots, for these rarely produce any 
thing but a confusion of unnecessary wood-shoots every summer: 
and for which reason be careful, in pruning out the superfluous and 
irregular shoots, always to cut them off quite clone from whence 
they originate. 
Then train in, all the remaining proper branches and shoots at 
their full length, about from four to five or six inches asunder, as 
aforesaid, without reducing them in length either in the summer or 
winter pruning. 
By the above practice, the shoots or branches of these trees will, 
about the second or third year after they are laid in, begin to pro- 
duce short shoots or spurs (as they are generally termed) about an 
inch or two in length; some not above half an inch; and from these 
the fruit is produced. 
But if the branches of these trees were to be shortened, it would 
be cutting off the very part where blossom buds or spurs first begin 
to appear; and instead of those fruitful parts, they would send forth 
