EEMAEKS ON TEUNING. 



REMARKS ox PRUNING. 



BY "WM. SAUXDEES, GAEDENEE TO TIIOS. WINANS, ESQ., BALTIMOEE. 



Notwithstanding tlie amount of attention tLis operation lias received from tlie 

 earliest to the latest contributions to horticultural literature, there is still much room 

 for improvement in its practical application. It is a matter of regret, and tends 

 greatly to retard horticultural progress, that no definite rules can be laid down for 

 guidance in many of its details, that will be found equally applicable in all cases : 

 hence it occurs that the many seemingly conflicting advices given upon certain subjects 

 bewilders the inexperienced cultivator, and makes him doubt the truth of the sentence 

 that says, "In the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Although theoretical 

 advice will be taken only for what it is worth by the man whose practice is backed by 

 long and successful experience, yet there are many who have not had the benefit of 

 such experience, that are easily led to agree with fair and plausible deductions, and 

 only discover their error when it is too late to be recalled. 



In the various manipulations connected with the cultivation of fruit trees, pruning 

 is one of the most important, and one of the least attended to. It is true that most 

 people who have fruit trees generally make some attempt of the kind ; but wholesale 

 inflictions of the saw and axe in trimming up the stems, as practised by many, can 

 not be termed pruning. To attain a thorough knowledge both of the use and abuse 

 of the operation, it is necessary to take into consideration the conditions upon which 

 a tree exists, and the modifying influences to which it is subjected. When a seed is 

 dejDOsited in a suitable medium for germination, its first effort is to send roots down- 

 ward into the soil, which is immediately followed by a corresponding upward elongation 

 forming stem and leaves. The seed contains within itself all the elements required 

 for this process ; but as soon as leaves are developed, the plant changes its source of 

 nourishment, and is now dependent upon the soil and air for its future support. The 

 elementary substances absorbed by the roots undergoes decomposition in the leaves, 

 and the new matter thus prepared passes down the stem and roots, extending their 

 formation. The roots have no inherent power of extension, but are dependent upon 

 the elaborating functions of the leaves ; and although they precede the leaves in the 

 germination of seed, their existence is due to the previous action of foliage, and their 

 increase will be in an exact ratio to the amount of foliage retained. 



When we consider, therefore, how essential foliage is to the health and develop- 

 ment of the plant, we may well pause and consider what object is to be gained by 

 infringing upon the beautiful system of reciprocal action Nature has established 

 between the roots and branches, resting assured that every branch we cut oflf exercises 

 an influence either injurious or beneficial to the future well-being of the tree. This 

 corelative action between the leaves and roots being so intimately connected, it follows 

 that by diminishing the extent of foliage a corresponding check is given to the roots. 

 ^ Their power of action being thus circumscribe<.l, there is less absorption of w 

 rY matter into the system of the plant, and the wood is in consequence solidified and 



