24:2 Pruning in Summer. [May, 



left unpruned. But it is found tliat gardeners too often counteract tliis 

 axiom in the science of pruning, and erroneously hold to the doctrine 

 that a branch is made to grow stronger by phortening, while the long 

 growth makes it weaker. This must not be confounded with the usual 

 practice of shortening in branches wiih a view of uniting their whole 

 supply of t-:ap for the benefit of a few eyes, which must then, of course, 

 take on a stronger development than if this supply had been distributed 

 to many buds. On this principle, older trees, wlnse branches are dis- 

 proportioncd to the vigor of the roots, and which are frequently exhausted 

 Ijy heavy fruitage, are greatly benefitted by being ' shortened in,' — the 

 vegetative capacity of the roots and branches being thereby adjusted to 

 a fairer balance. 



Passing on from the great number of high stemmed fruit trees, wherein 

 nature herself provides for a general growth and uniform distribution of 

 sap, to the class of the dwarf-trees, we find that the main purpose of the 

 gardener should be, to bring the lower lateral branches to perfection. To 

 accomplish this object, he naturally finds it necessary to shorten the 

 leading top branches, allowing the lateral branches to remain longer, in 

 order to form a well proportioned pyramidal top. The same object must 

 be kept in view by the hedge-grower from the very beginning of his oper- 

 ations. To secure a proper density in the bottom part of his hed^e is 

 he most important item in his calculations. He aims to accomplish 

 his by trimming, very closely, the ascending shoot of the previous 

 summer ; but, with increased vigor, new and stronger shoots burst forth, 

 and, if no timely stop be made in their di>proportioned upward growth, 

 these again are to be abated in the coming year. 



And here the great question arises, — what means are at hand to 

 control this growth in summer and limit its development to the desired 

 point ? — for certainly it would be quite unreasonable to suppose that to 

 be a sound and sensible horticultural practice by which the tree is 

 allowed, during all the summer, to make as many shoots as its vigor 

 may prompt, and which the gardener sees growing all the while with the 

 pleasing prospect of cutting them all off the following spring. In view 

 of such practice, well might we ask whether the vegetative powers of the 

 tree might not be more economically managed ? and, whether a fruit- 

 tree must necessarily produce a heap of useless brush-wood before its 

 energies can be directed to the production of fruit ? And under such 

 treatment, is it to be wondered at that many complain that their trees do 

 not bear well, and in lugubrious tones repeat their granny's words, 



" Whoso planteth pears, 

 Planteth for his heirs." 



