462 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



PRUNING. 



It is an old and often-repeated saying, in reference to any disputed 

 point, that the truth lies between two extremes — not always midway, 

 we presume. One of the privileges enjoyed by her Majesty's subjects 

 in these realms is the freedom of dispute, and it is a privilege which 

 is evidently much appreciated. The more a point is discussed, the less 

 unanimous becomes the discussion. The disputants seem to waive minor 

 points, and arrange themselves round a couple of opposite central ideas, 

 the more antagonistic the better, and wrangle round the one common 

 centre of wrath, but approach it they will not while charged with the 

 fervour of the occasion. Perhaps electricity, which explains most mys- 

 teries, as well as the Potato disease, has something to do with it; 

 mutual repulsion, and positive and negative elements, are common to 

 both phenomena. If the fact be asserted that we gardeners are a hard- 

 working, intelligent, and conscientious class of men, some one must 

 counter-assert that we are corrupt, illiterate, and time-serving ; the truth 

 being, that, as a class, we are pretty much like other classes of human- 

 ity, but taking a peculiar tone of character from the nature of our 

 employment — that is, rather retiring and thoughtful, and a little given 

 to self-assertion. 



Some time ago we ventured to advocate a sparing use of the knife, 

 both at root and branches, in pruning of fruit-trees, under particular 

 circumstances, having repeatedly seen the folly of severe top-pruning, 

 and extreme bad effects of the other ; and forthwith we were supposed 

 not to prune at all, — that our wall and espalier trees must be something 

 of the style of a hedgerow. Somebody also insinuated, that he for 

 one liked to see trees well trained, as if training and cutting were 

 inseparable ; and suggesting the idea that our trees must be a pretty- 

 tangled picture indeed. Now, in advocating a minimum of cutting 

 with the knife, it must not be supposed that we do not prune at all, 

 or that we eschew all regular training. We venture to assert again that 

 our idea is the most consistent with good training. By close attention 

 to summer pinching and thinning of the wood, the leading shoots of 

 a tree are strengthened ; and by timely stopping, two and even three 

 pairs of branches can be secured on young horizontal espalier and wall 

 trees. Our critics forget that summer-pinching is no new thing, and 

 when well followed up, reduces winter-pruning to a minimum. 



A few days ago we called on a neighbour who has two houses full 

 of fine trained Peach-trees, the foliage fine and beautifully green, and 

 the wood beautifully green also, and exceedingly strong and abundant; 

 but, notwithstanding their fine health, they would not fruit, and they 

 had been weU cut in last year. Our neighbour proposed to cut them 



