I 
m 
THEOEY AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 
the points of such shoots before they hreak. The horizontal mode of training offers the same advan- 
tages for this fruit which it does for the Pear and Apple, namely, that all the parts of the tree are 
more equally balanced by its adoption. As we have described the formation of the tree (under Pear), 
we need not here advert to it, and for those who would train in the fan-shaped manner, the instructions 
for the PEAcrf are sufficient. 
We have then to explain the mode of bearing, and to detail the summer and winter management 
of a tree, which we will suppose to be already formed upon either plan, although 
we think the horizontal ought to be preferred to the fan mode. 
The fruit of the Plum is produced naturally upon short spurs along the two 
year, three year, or older branches. Fig. 1 represents a two years' old branch, in 
which a, a, a, are blossom-buds. Fig. 2 repre- 
sents a spur from an older branch, which has 
received treatment in past years from the hand 
of the pruner. To ensure a regular supply of 
these fruit-bearing studs, or spurs, and to keep 
them as close as possible to the main branches, 
Q~" ~p^ — \ \y^ _^5§> must be the aim of those who desire to have fruit. 
As the Plum is a tree which produces exces- 
sively luxuriant shoots when severely pruned, 
we advise the same plan of pinching the sum- 
mer shoots, three or four joints in length, as 
we have for the Pear ; instead of cutting them 
out at midsummer, almost to their bases, and also to stop the leading shoots once or 
twice in the growing season, according to circumstances. Trees so treated will always 
present a large choice of well placed fruitful buds, which will afford an opportunity 
of keeping the spurs shortened back so as to be close to the wall, or what is 
understood in our vernacular phraseology as applied to gardening matters, by the 
term " at home." 
The Plum-tree is well adapted for forming pyramids, which are valuable 
adjuncts to a small garden. Root-pruning is most essential, and should be fre- 
quently resorted to. 
THE APRICOT. 
It has long been the practice to train this tree in the fan-shaped 
manner, and to that subject we need not revert. The fruit of the 
Apricot is produced upon the last year's shoots, and also upon short 
spurs of the shoots of former years. The latter were more gene- 
rally encouraged by our older practitioners, but it is now more usual 
to treat the tree in a similar manner to the Peach. Our object is, 
therefore, to ensure a plentiful supply of young wood (and a succes- 
sion of it) all over the tree. Great care should be taken to avert the 
necessity of removing large branches, as it is most susceptible of 
injury from this cause. 
The reason why young wood is prefered to spurs is, that the 
Apricot-tree not being indigenous, but a native of " the land of the 
sun," is not only very excitable, but very tender, and, of course, very 
unsuited to withstand the rigour of our late spring frosts, alterna- 
ting, as they often do, with the brilliant sunny days which we occa- 
sionally get in March. As the blossom-buds of the young shoots, when nailed or tied in, are in close 
contact with the wall, they are much more secure than those which are borne on projecting spurs ; 
and hence this preference. Fig. 3 represents a branch of an Apricot-tree, in which A, A, is one year old 
wood, and B two years' old wood"; a, a, are blossom-buds, and b, b, wood-buds. The summer 
pruning of Apricot-trees consists principally of the disbudding process, removing and thinning the 
superfluous shoots, and keeping only the well-situated, replacing shoots at a sufficient distance from 
each other, to permit every leaf which is retained to perform its functions. The young wood must be 
shortened with discretion, applying the process with less severity to strong than weak shoots, and 
always taking care to shorten a sufficient number of the lowermost shoots to prevent the occurrence of 
any blank or nakedness ; in fine, to keep the tree "at home." 
w 
I 
