PRO 



484 



PRU 



used, the end thrust into the ground 

 should be previously charred ; if this 

 precaution be taken, and when no 

 longer required, they are stored in a 

 dry shed, they will last for several 

 peasons. Props should be placed on 

 the south sides of the plants, as they 



the operation should not take place un- 

 til the fall of the leaf indicates that 

 vegetation has ceased, yet if the tree 

 be weak, it may be often performed 

 with advantage a little earlier; but 

 still so late in the autumn as to pre- 

 vent the protrusion of fresh shoots. 



incline in that direction, as being most This reduction of the branches before 



tlie tree has finished vegetating, directs 

 Two species, a greater supply of sap to those re- 

 — ' - Seed. I maining, and stores up in them the 

 I supply for increased growth next sea- 

 ,^ ^^^^,^^. Stove I son. If the production of spurs is the 

 Cuttings. Peat and 1 object of pruning a branch, it should be 

 ' pruned so as to leave a stump ; because 

 as the sap supplied to the branch will 

 be concentrated upon those buds re- 

 maining at its extremity, these will be 

 productive of shoots, though otherwise 

 they would have remained dormant, it 

 being the general habit of plants first to 

 develop and mature parts that are far- 

 thest from the roots. It is thus the 

 filbert is induced to put forth an abund- 

 ance of young bearing wood, for its 

 fruit is borne on the annual shoots, and 

 similar treatment to a less severe ex- 

 tent is practised upon wall fruit." — 

 Princ. of Gardening. 



The mystery of pruning consists in 

 being well acquainted with the mode of 



light 



PROSERPINACA 

 Half-hardy annual aquatics 

 Rich loam in water. 



PROSOPIS. Five species 

 evergreen tree 

 loam. 



PROSTANTHERA. Seven species. 

 Green-house evergreen shrubs. Young 

 cuttings. Sandy peat. 



P R O T E A . Forty-seven species. 

 Green-house evergreen shrubs. Ripe 

 cuttings taken off at a joint ; sandy turfy 

 loam, well drained. Water moderate- 

 ly, but regularly. 



PRUNELLA. Self-Heal. Fourteen 

 species. P. Broumiana and P. ovata 

 are hardy annuals, the others hardy 

 herbaceous. Seed or division. Light 

 rich loam. 



PRUNING, as practised in the gar- 

 den, has for its object the regulation of 

 the branches to secure the due pro- 



duction of blossom and maturity of the bearing of the diflierent sorts of 



trees, and forming an early judgment 

 of the future events of shoots and 

 branches, and many other circum- 

 stances, for which some principal rules 

 may be given ; but there are particular 



fruit. If carried to too great an extent^ 

 that object is not attained, for every 

 tree reijuires a certain amount of leaf- 

 surface for the elaboration of its sap ; 

 and, therefore, if this be reduced too 



allU, LIICl eiui c, ll una uc Jcuui;cu luu may uc ^ivcii , uui liicic; uic ^aiiii.uiai 



much, blossom buds are produced less instances which cannot be judged of 



abundantly, for leaves are more neces 

 sary for the health of the plant, and by 

 a wise provision the parts less requi- 

 site for individual vigour are super- 

 seded by the parts more needed. On 



^" — — J — & — "- 



but upon the spot, and depend chief- 

 ly upon practice and observation. — 

 Peaches, nectarines, apricots, &c., all 

 produce their fruit princi|)allv upon the 

 young wood of a year old ; that is, the 



the Other hand, if the branches are left j shoots produced this year bear the year 



too thick, they overshadow those be- 

 neath them, and so exclude the light. 



following ; so that in all these trees, a 

 general supply of the best shoots of 



as to prevent that elaboration of the : each year must be everywhere pre- 

 sap, without which no blossom buds 1 served at regular distances, from the 

 are formed, but an excessive produc- i very bottom to the extremity of the 

 tion of leaves, in the vain eff'ort to at- j tree on every side ; but in winter prun- 

 tain by an enlarged surface that elabo- i ing, or general shortening, less or 



ration which a smaller surface would 

 etfect in a more intense light. The 

 appropriate pruning is given when 

 considering each species of fruit trees, 

 and here we must confine ourselves 

 to a few general remarks : " The 

 season for pruning must be regulated 

 in some degree by the strength of the 

 tree ; for although, as a general rule, 



more, according to the strength of the 

 different shoots, is necessary, in order 

 to promote their throwing out, more 

 effectually, a supply of young wood 

 the ensuing summer, in proper place 

 for training in for the succeeding year's 

 bearing. 



Vines also produce their fruit always 

 upon the young wood shoots of the 



