544 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
I SUMMER PRUNING OF FRUIT 
i TREES. 
Tlhe practice of summer pruning fruit 
trees has much to commend it, but, on the 
other hand, if it is not properly carried 
out it is capable of causing much 
harm. One of the grea^test mistak^ 
is to commence the work too soon, and if 
this is done a considerable amount of 
growth is sure to be made afterwards, and 
if the basal buds do not actually break into 
growth, they are sure to be unduly excited. 
lation of sap throughout the tree. The 
rowtlis proceeding from the spurs should 
e shortened back to about five leaves or 
buds from their base; it is not advisable 
to cut them any closer until they are 
pruned in winter. 
Sweet cherries are treated on similar 
lines, and should be attended to at an early 
date. Plums usually make a good deal of 
growth, and in dealing with these, or other 
July 19, 1913. 
buds break into growdh, and next vetr’s 
fruit prospects are ruined. 
Pear trees on walls can be dealt with 
next, and, in their case, the treatment is 
very similar. Cordon apples may be 
pruned towards the end of July. Auguet 
is soon enough to summer prune bush and 
pyramid trees of apples and pears, with 
the exception of very early varieties, that 
may be done a little sooner. When train- 
ing young trees leave a growdh when^ 
ever it can be done 'wdthout overcrowding, 
providing, of course, that it is well placed, 
as this will help to build up a goud 
foundation. Old trees that are somewhat 
thin, as certain varieties of spreading 
groT^h are liable to become, are greatlv 
improved by having shoots retain^ fuF. 
length in blank spaces, and I have found 
this a means of greatly increasing the fruh- 
ROSE RED LETTER DAY. 
A decorative single variety; flowers glowing crimson-scarlet. Silver-^lt Medal, July 
® •' Newtownards, Co. Do^vn. 
The advantages of summer pruning are 
that it assists in the formation of fruit 
buds, and allows the wood that is retained 
to become more fully ripened owing to it 
being more exposed to light and air. It 
also assists the fruit to swell by directing 
the sap from the superfluous growths into 
the fruit. 
One of the first trees to receive attention 
is the apricot, and in dealing with this it 
is important to lay in young growths in 
various parts of the tree where this can 
be done without overcrowding, as the finest 
fruit is usually produced on these young 
growths. 
The shoots at the ends of the main 
branches should be preserved their full 
length, as this encourages a free circu- 
kinds of trees that are inclined to make 
more vigorous growth tow^ards the top, it 
is preferable to prune the upper portion 
of the trees first, so as to allow the branches 
near the base to attain a greater 
development, as under the circum¬ 
stances they would receive a greater 
proportion of sap. After the upper- 
parts of the trees have been pruned about 
a fortnight the work may very well be 
finished off. Endeavour to keep the tr^ 
furnished with young wood towards the 
base, where they are so liable to become 
bare if otire is not taken to lay in growtlis 
when summer pruning, and, moreover, do 
not cut back the later growtlis too 
hard, as more trees are probably ruined 
from this cause than any other; the basal 
4. Messrs. Alex. Dickson 
and Sous, 
ring capacities of such ^ 
growths of apples and pears a 
ong it is preferable to leai 
>wths full length; by t ns , it 
ance of sap is better pres |jranrb’^ 
an easy matter to ^^^rten _ priiDin&- 
he desired length at the ^bp>kb. 
latsford Park Gardens. 
French Plum 
ims in France is as unsa is of 
gland, Germany, and 
rope, and the French gro gp^r* 
to contribute otherw 
lie to conxriuuLc Trndi&a 
to tho supplies in ^e En^ 
The crops of nnrabelles an f 
