1857.] ti])on Views Entertained. 155 



the roots, on which account you trim freely, knowing you can not 

 replace the tree in such a manner as that its roots shall be able to 

 start into luxuriant growth its former number of buds. Again, 

 when from the leanness of the soil or other cause, a tree becomes 

 stunted or enfeebled in growth — the quantity of cambium manufac- 

 tured being small — and both the upward and downward circulation 

 become sluggish, by leading back, or pruning judiciously, all the 

 force of the nourishing fluid is thrown into a smaller number of 

 buds, which consequently develop new and more luxuriant shoots, 

 larger sap vessels, which afford a ready passage to the fluids, and the 

 tree is thereby renewed in its energies and fructuous power. Old 

 trees should not be pruned, as they often are, after having been neg- 

 lected, by lopping off large branches almost indiscriminately, which 

 is sure to be disastrous, but should be headed back, and the roots as- 

 sisted at the same time with a good top dressing. A judicious prun- 

 ing to modify the form of our standard trees, is all that is required 

 in ordinary practice. Every fruit tree grown in the open orchard as 

 a standard, should be allowed to take its natural form, the whole ef- 

 forts of the pruner going no further than to remove all weak and 

 crowded branches ; those which are filling uselessly the interior of 

 the tree, where the leaves can not be duly exposed to the air, light 

 and sun, should be removed, giving a fine open top to the tree. 

 Where pruning is not required to renovate the vigor, or regulate the 

 shape of a tree, it may be considered worse than useless, bearing 

 in mind that growth is always corresponding to the action of the 

 leaves and branches, if these are in due proportion and in perfect 

 health, and that the knife will always be detrimental to luxuriance and 

 constitutional vigor. Ignorant cultivators frequently weaken the 

 energies of young trees, and cause them to grow up with lean and 

 slender stems, by injudiciously trimming off the young side shoots. 

 By taking off these shoots, the stem is deprived of all the leaves 

 which would elaborate the sap furnished by the roots, thus dwarfing 

 materially the energies of the tree, which will soon be seen by its 

 feeble and slender growth. 



Horticulturists differ widely as to the proper time of pruning, and 

 simply from the fact that it can be done with profit almost any time 

 when it is needed. The best season for pruning to promote growth, 

 theoretically, is in the autumn soon after the fall of the leaf. Next 

 to this, winter and spring pruning, while the buds are yet in a qui- 

 escent state, and this is generally the most convenient season ; when 



