SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. 153 



rights, that fome fruit [purs are thus loft; for apricots 

 are apt to bear on little fhort fhoots, of from halt an 

 inch to an inch, (or more) and there are peaches which 

 do the fame; fo that it is a rule with fome pruners to 

 wait to diftinguifh^//r.r ixom flmts % and then toufe the 

 knife; yet life it as little as may be in fummer. 



In regulating a tree, at any time, begin at the bottom 

 and middle, and work the way orderly upward and 

 outward. Never Jhorten m fummer, (which would pro- 

 duce frefh (hoots) except a forward (hoot where wood 

 may be wanting; but where the tree is really too thick, 

 cut' clean out what may be fpared. None of the moots 

 produced after Midfummer mould be nailed in, except 

 where wood is wanting to fill a naked place : They 

 never bear fruit. 



The proper ufe of nails zndfhreds is neceflary to the 

 beauty of the tree, as well as a regular dilpolition-of 

 the branches ; and in this bufmefs ingenuity will evi- 

 dence itfelf in neatnefs. 



Nails that are weak and fmall can hardly be ufed,, 

 for they muff be of fufheientftrength to hold fa/l ; but 

 large nails do not look well, and hurt the wall more 

 than fmailer. There is, however, a fort made on pur- 

 pofe for this work, with flat heads, and robuft fhanks^ 

 called garden nails, and thefe are generally to be ufed;. 

 there is yet a fmailer fort, with flat heads, that, in many 

 tales, might do, and they have fomewhat the advantage 

 m neatnefs. In default of thefe there are lath nails, of 

 two or three fizes, that maybe brought into ufe. It is> 

 proper to have two fizes, the larger for flrong and the 

 fmailer for weak (hoots: trees trained to wood- can 

 hardly have nails too fmall. 



Shreds mould be adapted to the ftrength of the 

 branches, and the diffance of the buds from each other; 

 fo that with flrong fhoots, having their buds wide* 

 fuch broad fhreds may be ufed, that would make weak 

 fhoots unffghtly, and fpoil them by covering the buds.; 

 •many a well cut ties has been made difgufting, 



merely 



