SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. 143 



The time for the principal, or -winter pruning, is by 

 fome gardeners held indifferent, if the weather is mild 

 at the time; but a moderate winter's day is often quick- 

 ly followed by a fevere froft, which may hurt the eye 

 and bloflbm next the cut. The belt time is at the fall 

 of the leaf, and mould take place as foon as the leaves 

 begin to fall. November is, generally fpeaking, a good 

 time, and if this month is pail, ihen February, if it is 

 mild, or as foon after as polTible, for when the bloflbm 

 buds get fwelled, they are apt to be knocked off by a 

 little touch, or jar of the hammer. 



An autumn pruning will make the tree ftronger, and 

 the bloflbms come bolder and forwarder; and if trees 

 are then cut, as it leflens the work of fpring much, 

 this alone is a good argument for it. This practice 

 gives alip a better opportunity to crop the borders 

 (moderately; with cauliflowers, lettuces, radijhes, &c. 

 to iland the winter. Primers in general, however, like 

 a fpring cutting, becaufe they then fee the bloflbms 

 plainly, and thus more readily make their election of 

 Ihoots. Yet if the firft fine weather and leifure were 

 embraced in autumn, it were certainly better ; and 

 furely it mull give fatisfaclion to fee the trees in order 

 all the winter. 



But though an autumn pruning is to be earneflly 

 recommended, it were Left to leave young trees, for a 

 year or two, after heading down till fpring ; and luxu- 

 riant trees ought certainly to be fo left, not only to 

 check the ftrength of the coming ihoots, but to fee 

 better where their bloflbms are, that no fruit be loft, as 

 when in this ilate they bear but idly. 



In an autumn pruning*, apricots mould be cut lafl; 

 but if fpring be the time, the rule is to begin with 

 , apricots, then peaches, and then neclarines. Apricots 

 mould not be fo much fhortened as peaches, nor do 

 they fu well endure the knife. Shoots of theapricot, if 

 under a foot, may be left uncut, if there is room. The 

 jpurs of apricots mould be fpared, if not too long, or 



nume- 



