384 THE FRUIT-GARDEN. [May. 
whence they were produced, being particular to leave a plentiful 
supply, of such as are good and well placed; and when of due 
growth, train them in, at full length, close, and regular. The long 
fore right shoots, that is, such as project directly towards the front, 
ought generally to be displaced, except where some are wanted for 
laying in, to fill up vacant places; and likewise, any extraordinary 
vigorous growths, arising in the middle of the tree, unless where 
necessary to be preserved, for similar purposes. 
Where any considerable opening appears, and that but one or 
two shoots offer in such place, you should, after these have grown 
about a foot long, shorten them to three or four eyes, and they will 
soon after shoot out again, probably, one from each bud, to furnish 
the vacancy. 
Be very particular, as to apples, pears, plums, and cherries, not 
to shorten or rub off, such advancing buds, as nature has intended 
for fruiting-spurs, which, are very distinguishable by their short 
thick growth. 
Espaliers. 
All unnecessary, ill placed, and fore-right shoots, on espalier 
trees of every kind, should now be rubbed off or cut away; they 
are only robbers, and should consequently be discarded; but, in 
doing this, discretion ought to be observed, and an abundant sup- 
ply left, to furnish the trees, and to discharge such parts of the as- 
cending juices, as are not convertible into wood or fruit. 
Apples, pears, plums and cherries, continue bearing many years, 
on the same spurs or branches, and do not require such a general 
annual supply of young wood, as peaches and nectarines, &c. which 
always, with very few exceptions, produce their fruit from the pre- 
ceding year's shoots; yet a sufficiency should be left, to train in 
between the main branches, and a leading or terminal one to each 
branch, unless the tree has already extended as far as you desire; 
for it is essentially requisite, to leave a sufficieut number of the 
best placed shoots, to choose from in the general winter pruning. 
The shoots now preserved, should be trained in regularly to the 
espalier, at full length; for the reasons assigned in the winter prun- 
ing, see the Fruit-Garden in January. 
Where there is any great vacancy, it is proper, towards the latter 
end of this month, to shorten some of the adjoining young shoots 
of the year, to three or four buds, to cause them to produce a supply 
of lateral branches to fill the vacant places. 
Young wall and espalier-trees, that are advancing in a training 
state, should also be attended to now, in their early shooting, to dis- 
place the improper and ill-placed growths, and retain all the well 
placed shoots, both for an additional supply of branches in the gene- 
ral formation of the trees, and to form future bearers for production 
of fruit. 
Thinning of Fruit. 
Apricot, peach, and nectarine trees, in favourable seasons, some- 
times set superabundant crops of fruit, often in thick clusters, and 
