168 PEiJis^mG. 



7. Prune when tlie sap is active, that the wound 

 may heal quickly. 



8. When trees are tardy in coming into bearing, 

 prune severely in spring, pinch constantly in summer, 

 and root-prune in early autumn. 



9. When a tree has been removed, prune oiF the 

 branches in pro^^ortion to the loss of roots. 



SEASON FOE rKUNING. 



Mr. Downing recommended winter and fall pruning 

 of fruit-trees, without regard to kinds. This is the 

 general practice ; but as relates to the Pear, it 

 is beginning to be thought erroneous by the best 

 pomologists. Wounds made in winter jDi'uning can- 

 not heal over until the sap shall deposit the matter 

 that ripens into bark and wood. In the meanwhile, 

 the raw cut becomes dry and checked, the end of the 

 branch usually dies down for some distance, and 

 requires a new cut in the spring. The best season for 

 pruning the Pear is after the buds begin to swell in 

 April, until the new leaves are half formed. 



All the wood that requires removal should be 

 j)runed at this season, to economize the sap before it 

 has been wasted in wood growth, that will need to be 

 pruned away. Pruning, however, beyond tlie 1st of 

 July should be avoided, as it induces a late suc- 

 culent growth, that remainiug unripened, is subject 

 to blight. 



ROOT-PRUNING, AND ITS EFFECT ON SHAPE AND FRUITING. 



It has long been known, that an obstinate variety 

 growing on the pear stock, might be hastened in its 



