98 ORCHAKDS. 



kind of paint or composition), the wounds Tvill heal without 

 causing any more blemishes in the tree than those to which it 

 was subject, at the time when the branch was separated. If 

 such tree, however, be very old and much encumbered with use- 

 less wood, it will be proper to cut off all decayed, rotten, or 

 blighted branches, previously to the operation ; and to rub 

 them with the preparation above alluded to, with a view to ex- 

 clude the rain and cold winds . . . Lastly, Mr. B. observes, 

 the rest may be left to the discretion of each person, who will 

 soon see how much is necessary ; self-conviction being the 

 best school for improvement." 



The following excellent directions respecting pruning trees, 

 have been published before ; and though the substance of them 

 are already given in the course of this work, yet the manner 

 in which they are here presented to the reader, will be of 

 advantage, as they cannot be too strongly enforced. 



" Any time in the month of March is a proper season to 

 prune your trees : mind nothing about the moon, for she 

 concerns herself little about you or your trees, and the sign is 

 always in the right place when it makes you industrious . . . 

 There is no part of a farm that yields so great profit with so 

 little labor as the well cultivated orchard. 



"Young trees require to be pruned every year as well as the 

 old. You should never suifer a sucker to remain near the 

 root, from one year to another, nor by any means upon the 

 body or trunk, which you do not intend shall be permanent. 



In pruning old trees, and those which have gotten their 

 growth, observe the following rules : 



Cut away no limb near the trunk, nor indeed at any dis- 

 tance from it, which is too large at the place of incision to 

 heal or to close over again ; this may be determined by the 

 thriftiness of the tree, as well as by the size. If by neglect 

 you have suffered a limb to stand, till it has attained its 

 growth, it must stand otherwise, by extirpating it, (unless de- 

 fended by ' ForsytJis composition), you give the tree its 

 death wound by opening an avenue to the air and water, 

 whiph induce rottenness, and, in course of time, the limb or 

 trunk becomes hollow, frequently to the roots. 



