282 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



2. To allow no branches to remain which ai-e unfitted for their functions. 



3. To bear in mind that fruitfulness and luxuriant growth are opposite 



qualities. 



4. That extreme fruitfulness is as injurious to the trees as exuberant 



foliage, and true art consists in regulating both. 



768. "With a thorough comprehension of these principles, the saw, the axe, 

 and the bill-hook mar be dismissed from the list of garden tools. The sagacious 

 and observant John Evelyn foresaw the day when this would be the case. ' ' The 

 ancients," he says, '"'found such benefits in pruning, that they feigned that a 

 goddess presided over it." He tells us in another place that a pruner should be 

 early at his work, quoting Lawson, the orchardist. He says: "All ages, by 

 rules and experience, do consent to pruning and lopping of trees, yet have not 

 any that I know described unto us, except in dark and general words, which 

 or what are those superfluous boughs which we must take away. 'Tis misery 

 to see how our finest trees are defaced!" "We recommend, the reader will 

 observe, pinining, but not lopping. 



769. Numerous fanciful modes of training wall-fruit have been recommended ; 

 but to secure permanently healthy trees, they should be made to assume their 

 natural position as near as possible. First, then, as to Peach and Xectarine 

 trees : the fan s3-5tem is the best, because that is the most natural form that 

 trees so ai'tificially placed can be made to assume. Much injm-y is done to 

 trained fruit-trees merely to give them an artistic appearance. 



770. Protection to the expected blosson of wall-trees is, however, the great 

 object at this season, and om" correspondent H. P. D., suggests as folllows : — 

 In our cold and uncertain climate, all sorts of wall-trees, especially peaches, 

 nectarines, and apricots, require some protection in the spring, as soon ae the 

 blossoms begin to expand. Various expedients for this purpose, all more or 

 less costly, from glass to oin 2ohing-nets, have been adopted ; but, in the 

 absence of protected copings, I believe that nothing will be found less costly 

 and more effectual than sprays of Scotch and spruce firs nailed against the 

 wall, or drawn in between the branches, so as to co /er the whole face of the 

 trees as soon as the blossom-buds begin to expand. This is far better than 

 tiffany, calico, or any close covering, as it allows the air at all times a free cir- 

 culation, and adapts itself to the requirements of the advancing season, as 

 the leaflets of the sprays will gradually die off, and, without any trouble of 

 removal, leave the trees quite uncovered by the time the green leaves have 

 made their ai)pearance, and there is no further fear of frost. Some gardeners 

 say, "the best protection is to keep your blossoms out of harm's way," and 

 advise i-etarding the time of blossoming by any and every means. This is 

 good as far as it goes ; but no retarding will permit us with safety to dispense 

 with some covering as a protection from frost. Keep your trees unnailed all 

 the winter, — screen them from the early spring sunshine, — ^lay bare their roots, 

 heap snow about their stems, and prune late, and nail late also, if you will ; 

 and by such means you may retard any tree in blossoming for about a fort- 

 night : but our spring frosts come much later ; and while the tree is without 



