. The fruit garden. Fruit-culture; Fruit trees. THE APRICOT 25 from that advised for the peach, because a larger number of main branches must be introduced ; indeed, the tree will be wholly composed of main branches, and instead of laying in small shoots which issue from the latter, as advised in the case of the peach, they must be shortened back to three buds to form fruit-bearing spurs along the whole of the main branches. The spurs should be formed on the upper side of the branch, and should be from 4 to 6 inches apart. These will be permanent, and as time goes on the number of shoots on a
. The fruit garden. Fruit-culture; Fruit trees. THE APRICOT 25 from that advised for the peach, because a larger number of main branches must be introduced ; indeed, the tree will be wholly composed of main branches, and instead of laying in small shoots which issue from the latter, as advised in the case of the peach, they must be shortened back to three buds to form fruit-bearing spurs along the whole of the main branches. The spurs should be formed on the upper side of the branch, and should be from 4 to 6 inches apart. These will be permanent, and as time goes on the number of shoots on a spur will be added to by each year's growth, and to prevent their becoming too numerous, disbudding will have to be resorted to in spring. As a rule, only two or three growths on a spur should be allowed. In time the spurs will become large and ungainly, extending far from the branch, and it will be necessary to cut them off altogether. Younger growths will. Portion of Branch with Char- acteristic Growths {a) Two-year-old side branch with continuation growth and spurs bearing fruit; {6) two-year-old spur in fruit; (c) fruits pro- duced on the preceding year's wood with growths forming either short stubby shoots, or spurs for following season's bearing; («)' spur forming a cluster of blossom buds with a wood bud at apex ; (/) side shoot that may be either pinched or trained in to fill vacant space; {g) continuation of branch. replace them, and the appearance of the tree will in time by this process be much improved. This work must be carried out with caution, and only a few of the old spurs should be cut away at a time, otherwise much of the crop will be sacrificed for a year or two. Any vacant spaces between the branches can be filled by nailing or tying in the previous year's shoots in their entirety. Thinning the Fruits.—If fine well-developed fruits for dessert are desired, thinning must be done freely, for the apricot, as a rule, sets its fruits abundantly; one fruit to
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