64 
come more especially within the class of trees regarding which 
this caution is necessary ; and in respect to spur-bearing fruits, 
in general, our own practice shall be described. 
In the first place, with regard to Pear-trees, trained either 
horizontally or by the fan mode, it is well known to all who are 
acquainted with their habits, that they have a continual tendency, 
during the growing season, to produce succulent or watery 
shoots, near the points at which the branches diverge from the 
main stock. This is nature’s own course, and the tree, if left 
to itself, would, in the course of three or four years, run into its 
own native character — that of a standard, or tree with several 
stems. These would ultimately starve the trained shoots, ac- 
cording to a law which, with few exceptions, pervades the veget- 
able kingdom — that of causing the earliest formed, (and now 
inferior) shoots to perish first. These watery shoots, then, 
are the very first on which we commence operations, and this 
we do by pinching off their points, when they are six or eight 
inches in length. This will in general occur when the fruit 
is about the size of an acorn ; and the necessary consequence 
of the operation is, that the sap, which the “robbers” would, by 
their rapid extension, have consumed,’is propelled into the fer- 
tile branches, for the nourishment of the fruit. In June and 
July, a thinning out of the grossest shoots is to be gradually 
effected, and the remainder shortened to about six or eight inches 
in length, taking care to leave several growing unstopped at the 
extremities, to decoy the ascending sap. Care must now be 
taken, that light be admitted freely amongst all the branches ; 
and, by the end of July, sufficient shoots should have been 
removed to admit sun light through the whole fabric of the tree. 
Apricots may receive similar treatment. 
Peaches and Nectarines, in our northern climate, do not suc- 
ceed so well by the above system of spurring back. In these, 
every shoot not required for the next year’s bearing, should be 
totally removed by the middle of July. As soon as their fruit 
can be perceived to have commenced its last swelling, pinch 
or stop all the strongest shoots. By these means the size of 
the fruit is increased, and the wood so stopped, is rendered 
more perfect for the ensuing year. The weaker shoots, and 
those placed in an inferior position, may be left growing until 
the end of the season. 
