140 OF PRUNING. SECT. XII. 



chiefly regards the principal cutting, or what is called 

 winter pruning. 



If trees have been planted far enough afunder, it is a 

 happy circumftance, as the proper horizontal form, and 

 the open middle, may be preferved. The longer the 

 horizontals are, the more neceflary it is to be careful to 

 fuffer none but weak branches in the center uprightly. 

 If trees are confined as to length of wall, they of courfe 

 take a more erect form, but ftill flrong wood fnould not 

 mount juft in the middle. 



If the trees have been properly attended to during 

 fummer, there will be now (at their principal, or winter 

 pruning) the lefsto do ; and the leading objects are,^0 

 thin and to furnijh them, or, in other words, to take out 

 what is to fpare, and to cut what is left, fo as to fill the 

 tree properly again by fucceeding fhoots. 



A tree U to be thinned ol damaged, unpromifing, and 

 ill-placed fhoots, and of woody branches that are de- 

 caying, or reach far without fruitful fhoots on them, 

 and always fome of the old wood fhould be cut out, 

 where there is young to follow, or fupply its place. 

 Of the fair and well placed fhoots alfo, the fuperabun- 

 dance is to be taken away, fo as generally to leave the 

 good ones at four, five, or fix inches afunder, according 

 to the fize of the wood and fruit. 



Luxuriant wood, i. e. thofe fhoots that are gigantic, 

 mufl be taken out from the reft, as they would impo- 

 verifh the good, and deftroy the weak branches, and are 

 never fruitful; but if a tree is generally luxuriant, it 

 muft be borne with, and the lefs it is cut, comparatively 

 fpeaking, the better. Such a tree, after a few years, 

 may come to bear well; and when it begins to fhoot 

 moderately, fome of the biggeft wood may be taken 

 out each year, or fhortened down to two or three eyes, 

 and fo brought into order. The more horizontally 

 free (hooting trees are trained the better, as the bend- 

 ing of the fhoots checks the fap. A flrong fhoot or 



° two, 



