13.C OF PRUNING. SECT. XII. 



become too weak to extend themfelves, and nourifhthe 

 fruit. The primer, therefore, muft be content to have 

 ibmeof the wall, over the middle of the tree, unoccu- 

 pied; or, at leafl, fuffcr none but weak, or very mode- 

 rate (hoots, to find a place there. 



The idea of a well-formed tree is fomewhat reprc- 

 fented by the ribs of a fpread fan, or the fingers of the 

 hand extended. Regularity is allowed to be fo necef- 

 fary to the beauty of a wall tree, that fome have even 

 drawn lines for a guide to train by; but Nature, (ever 

 tree and eafy) will not fubmit to fo much formality, 

 and fuch a perfect difpofition of the branches are not 

 neccflary. A tree may be regular, without being linear, 

 and the proper ufeful (hoots are not to be facrificed to a 

 fanciful precifion. Though crofjlng of branches is 

 againft rule, yet cafes may happen (as in want of wood or 

 fruit) where even this awkwardnefs may be permitted. 

 The object, is fruit, and to obtain this end, form muft 

 fometimes give place. " Barrennefs being the greateft 

 cieiecr., crofting muft not be fcrupled, when barrennefs 

 cannot otherwife be avoided." A tree may be in fair 

 fymmetry, and yet badly pruned ; and thus fome igno- 

 rantly, and others cunningly, put trees in order with- 

 out a proper f election of branches, fo that the bed 

 fliall be cut out, and the word left, merely becaufe the 

 latter fuits the form better, and gives a favourable ap- 

 pearance to the work as regular. 



All fore-right and back (hoots, and other ufelefs 

 Woocf, mould be difplaced in time, for they exhauft 

 (he ftrengUi of the tree to no purpofe, and occafion a 

 rude appearance. It is a very expeditious method to 

 difplace fuperfluous young (hoots, by puihing, or 

 breaking them off; but when they get woody, it is apt 

 to tear the bark, and, in this cafe, the knife muft be 

 «jed: the better way is to dis-bud by rubbing; yet a- 

 young luxuriant tree (hould be fuffercd to grow a little 

 wild to fpend the fap. There is one evil, however, at- 

 tending on, dis-budding, and rubbing off young fcre- 



r%hts % 



