December 14, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
625 
:k 
THINNING AND SHORTENING 
FRUIT SPURS. 
-X- 
TTNDER the improved system of root-pruning and unchecked 
U branch-extension in fruit trees, it is not unusual for the fruit 
spurs to become injuriously crowded,and in consequence imperfectly 
developed. When such is the case fruit trees may be a perfect 
picture whilst in blossom in the spring, but the fruit exceedingly 
scanty. This is frequently attributed to the inclement state of the 
weather during the blooming period. Frost and excessive wet will 
render perfect blossom abortive by injuring and destroying their 
essential organs of reproduction before they have performed their 
functions ; but this is not always the cause of barrenness and the 
production of worthless fruit. It is often because the blossoms 
are imperfectly formed, in consequence of the spurs being too 
crowded. To allow a tree to open thousands of blossoms more 
than is necessary to secure a good crop is to exhaust its resources 
to no purpose just at a time when it is most needed. 
It would be absurd, in our uncertain climate, to thin the spurs 
to a number only just sufficient to secure a good crop of fruit ; 
indeed, we should not feel safe with less than treble the number 
that were necessary for that purpose. But then there are trees— 
in otherwise gocd form—with ten times too many spurs, and it is 
to these we would direct attention. The best results generally 
follow if they are thinned a fortnight before the leaves fall, as 
then the remaining spurs would be strengthened and more fully 
developed by the returning sap. We are, of course, past that period 
now, but the mode may be advantageously described. In performing 
the operation some experience is necessary, for if done to too great 
an excess, the remaining blossom buds may develop into wood 
growth in the following spring, and the balance of the tree be 
upset for a year or two. The trees’ growing power must be taken 
into consideration, and if this is known to be unduly vigorous, 
careful root-pruning must be resorted to. 
We must not shorten the main branches, but let them remain 
full length, or nearly so ; they will then act as safety valves to the 
superfluous sap just in proportion as they approach the vertical 
line. Horizontal branches do not act to any extent in this way, 
hence undue vigour must be dealt with at the roots. The finest 
fruits are usually obtained from spurs that lie close to the main 
branches in consequence of there being fewer interruptions in the 
flow of sap to the fruit ; therefore, in thinning the spurs, preference 
should be given to them. Indeed, one of the main objects in 
thinning and shortening the spurs is “ to keep them at home.” It 
will, however, sometimes happen, especially if the spurs have been 
much crowded, that the inside lowest fruit buds are not sufficiently 
developed to produce perfect blossom the following spring ; in 
which case a few of the outside plumper buds must be left, and 
then be promptly removed as soon as the fruit is ripe the next 
year. 
In well managed trees spurs never attain to any great length, 
as by summer pinching and autumn pruning short spurs are 
obtained ; but in neglected trees they are often crowded, weak, 
and long. Trees in this condition cannot be made presentable and 
capable of bearing full sized, good flavoured fruit in less than three 
years, and sometimes more. The flow of sap to the fruit is so 
much impeded in its passage through these long gnarled growths 
that the fruit is usually small, insipid, and worthless, and the tree 
altogether a mere cumberer of the ground. Providing the main 
No. 703.—VoL. XXVII., Third Series. 
stem and branches are healthy much may be done with patience 
and a judicious selection of buds in rectifying former evils, also in 
bringing the tree into a profitable state in much less time than a 
fruitful young tree could be produced. Those buds most distant 
from the main branch should be cut off the first year, which will 
have the effect of strengthening those immediately behind them, 
and in many cases induce the development of fruit buds lower 
down on the spur, and sometimes on the main branch at the 
junction of the old spur. 
If we are induced by our impetuosity to cut back the old spurs 
too much the first year, these latent buds that have been excited 
sufficiently to form close fruit buds, would develop vigorous 
wood growths, and thus in the end we should have lost time. The 
second season we may get some fairly good fruit, but we must still 
avoid cutting the old spurs too hard. Unless the root-action is 
very feeble we can seldom venture to cut back to the new fruit 
buds on or near the main branches until the third season. 
As before stated, undue vigour must be dealt with at the roots, 
but we must at the same time have sufficient vigour to excite the 
latent buds at the base of the old spurs. In practice we find it best 
to defer root-pruning until the second season, in which case the 
old spurs can be considerably reduced.—J. H. W., Leicester, Frith. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
An Appeal to Gap.denepvS in Ireland. 
Ere the dying year passes and the new one comes, bringing 
with it its new hopes and fresh resolutions, I venture to bring 
forward a subject which has received much attention in England 
from gardeners and the patrons of our art, yet seems to have been 
given but scant consideration from gardeners in Ireland. Though 
I hope these few remarks may be looked upon as an appeal to all 
persons who are not subscribers to this noble Institution, they are 
especially submitted to the consideration of my brother gardeners 
in the Green Isle. 
The plethora of candidates for gardeners’ situations which 
obtains in our time is known to all. The years of self-deniab 
burning the midnight oil, the difference of being in or of being out 
of a situation, and the bitterness of waiting are known to many as 
well as to me ; perhaps a few remarks coming from the pen of a 
gardener to gardeners may claim that sympathy and attention 
which abler pens in higher quarters have failed to attain, and 
which the subject deserves. 
While other trades and professions are forming and supporting 
benefit societies over the length and breadth of the land, we appear 
to be the only class in this age of progress content to let things 
run on as best they may. All must and do recognise the 
importance of our art, which began with the first man, and which 
probably will only end with the last one. We cannot compel the 
moneyed classes to create more gardens for gardeners, nor prohibit 
young men from coming into the overcrowded field. For this evil 
I see no remedy ; but, fellow workers, I do see one clearly 
defined duty, one way in which we can help ourselves—viz., by 
becoming members of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
Some gardeners may, indeed some have, met me with the remark, 
“ Oh, I may never need the bounty.” True, 0 friend ! I trust 
you never will. Your remark is not heartless, only thoughtless. 
We are not a selfish class, but do not refuse to “ help a worn and 
weary brother pulling hard against life’s stream.” 
Do start this new year by sending a guinea to the Secretary. 
I hear your remark, “A guinea is a guinea.” V®®) 
something more to a gardener. Our guineas are heavy with days 
of toil and nights of thought. I know it, and there are so many 
ways for them, as a rule so many olive branches in the gardener’s 
cottage, though there may be none in the castle ; you are perchance 
No. 2359.—VoL. LXXXIX,, Old Series. 
