1877.] 
THE CULTURE OF WALL-FRUITS.-CHAPTER VIII. 
33 
tlie tree, for as I have already hinted, the operator has in the regulation of the 
fruit-crop a powerful means of regulating the healthy performance of all the 
functions of the trees. Thus, supposing a tree at this stage, or a year or two 
further advanced, to be of a very vigorous habit, and to show a tendency to 
strong development of growth, more than double the number of fruit may be 
taken from it than from a tree of weaker constitution and more limited growth. 
But unfortunately these strong-growing specimens do not always set and carry 
on a sufficient amount of fruit to act as a sufficient check upon the growth, and 
hence the only natural resort is root-pruning. Years ago, but it is hoped not 
now, the check necessary to induce fertility was sought in the free use of the 
knife—in cutting out, that is, all luxuriant wood at the winter pruning. A 
greater mistake could not be made, as experience teaches that in the case of 
healthy trees a strong development of luxuriant growth invariably follows a too 
free use of the knife. This remark applies equally to all wall fruit-trees in 
common; but the Peach and Nectarine especially should be subjected as little as 
possible to the action of the knife, as they are very impatient of it, and wherever 
it is necessary to remove a branch of any size, it should be done during the 
dormant season, and the cut made clean and painted over with white-lead. 
Now, the prevention of the necessity for this extreme knife-work is the great 
object of what we generally style summer pinching-back and summer pruning. 
This is mostly done with the finger and thumb, and, therefore, as our trees ad¬ 
vance in growth, and the fruit-crop is not sufficient to produce the necessary 
check upon the growth, all luxuriant shoots which commence early to indicate their 
unfruitful nature by a free development of lateral shoots, should be at once 
stopped at one of the lowest laterals, and the lateral shoot trained on as a con¬ 
tinuation of the main shoot. These shoots, which generally perfect their growth 
during the best part of our seasons, are often more healthy than, and equally 
fruitful with, those shoots which, starting early, did not develop laterals; but 
this must not be construed too literally, because later on in years, as the trees 
become more developed in size, it often becomes necessary to cut many of them 
out altogether, and if this is done during the growing season, no injury will 
result, but the sap which they would have attracted to themselves by their free 
growth, will thus be diverted to the weaker bearing shoots. 
The suggestion which I made when treating of the early training of young 
trees, to train out all side-shoots from the main radiating stems on the upper 
side of the branches, cannot always be rigidly adhered to when the trees have 
advanced in the season’s growth, because unavoidable vacancies will often occur ; 
but in the early part of the growing season, when disbudding commences, the 
operator may often by foresight anticipate such vacancies, and train-in extra shoots 
from the lower side of the main branches in order to supply them. At the same 
time, the principle of confining the shoots laid in to the upper side of the branches 
is a good one, and will be found to greatly facilitate an operation which, in pro¬ 
gress of time, becomes unavoidable. There is a tendency in the lowest branches 
