THEORY OF PRUNING PRUIT TREES, &c 



I have in a former number adverted to the effects of removing portions of tliis fruit sys- 

 tem during the growing season, as M'itnesscd in a course of experiments with the peach; 

 but there is a plant in common cultivation whose history illustrates so forcibl}^ the debili- 

 tating tendency of the seed producing system, and the manifest relief to the general vigor 

 of the plant, consequent upon a removal of that system, whether sooner or later, in the 

 stages of its growth, that I am tempted to advert it, although perhaps at the expense of 

 that brevity projier for these numbers. I mean the tobacco plant, which, as every body 

 knows, is cultivated for its leaves; but these leaves are grown large or small, thick or thin, 

 at the will of the cultivator, who uses this same fruit or seed producing force as his chief 

 engine of control. Thus, if a heavy and thick article is desired, the upright leading shoot, 

 is pinched out before the slighest development of the seed system appears; in that case the 

 top leaves, although very small at the time of pinching out, expand, and in well cultivated 

 crops become the laigest of the plant, and the whole system of leaves keeps up an active 

 circulation with the roots till the approach of frost, constantly increasing in weight. If, 

 however, in the same field, other plants of equal thrift be allowed to grow until the em- 

 bryo umbels which would ultimately crown them if permitted to flower, are fairly deve- 

 loped, or in planter's parlance, until the " button" is formed, before the leading shoot is 

 cut off, no after care can make these leaves so large or so heavy as those upon the early 

 topped plant; and what is more, the longer the process of heading down is dela3'ed, the 

 lighter will be the leaves. In the first case we see striking evidence of the continued ac- 

 tion and reaction between the roots and leaves of the wood-bud system, during the grow- 

 ing season; in the latter, strong proof that the fruit or seed bearing system never ceases 

 to be a burden to the circulation, until it ceases to act. Cutting out, therefore, in whole 

 or in part, the fruit bearing system, is, whenever performed, a species of exorcism; a 

 freeing of the general circulation, in whole or in part, from the paralizing influences of 

 that magical power, which during the mysterious metamorphosis termed a develop- 

 ment of the fruit-bud system, as well as during its existence, seems to weigh like an in- 

 cubus upon the general vigor of a tree or plant; and if Forsyth had based his claims 

 to distinction and to national bounty, upon the fact of his having been the first who 

 wrought miracles by the potency of this charm in rejuvenating old trees, by heading them 

 back, and dressing the wounds with his peculiar composition — giving credit where it was 

 due, instead of bepraising a compound of inert ingredients, and thereby perpetrating the 

 egregious error of mistaking a trifling coincident for a most powerful cause, he would to- 

 day hold rank among practical philosophers, instead of being consigned, as he is, to the 

 companionship of humbugers. 



As for the other processes listed in class No. 1, they all rest upon well known maxims, 

 and need not be enlarged upon; Cutting back the wood branches after the close of one 

 growing season, and before another begins, is lessening the number of individuals to be fed, 

 Avithout lessening the years' supply. Cultivation destroys rival feeders, and facilitates the 

 passage of the roots in rambling for food, whilst manuring enables them to glean more 

 food from a given extent of pasturage. All insects, fungi, or mosses, interrupt in some 

 way the circulation, so that their destruction is at all times invigorating. 



I regret to see by an editorial remark in the November number of the Horticulturist, 

 that I failed to make myself understood in some comments upon Mr. Downing's method 

 of shortening-in. I have not intended to say that shortening-in, as ameans of preventing 

 the tree from enfeebling itself, was either inefficient or improper. So far from it, I consi 

 s process the means — nature's own means. The point I thought untenable 

 ctice, was prescribing this remedy somewhat as a panacea, and not as a specific. Some 



