SEcT. XII. OF PRUNING, 147 



As the apricjts gathered to thin a tree are ufed for 

 tarts, fo are fomctimes the neclar'mes, but let not too 

 many of either grow for this ufe, or flay too long on the 

 tree before they are gathered. Thin the more freely 

 flourifhing young trees, (to the third year) and weak 

 old ones. Trees mould be thinned by cutting off the 

 fruit with a fharp pointed knife, and not by pulling, 

 which may tear the bark, and, if joined (as in duffers) 

 to another fruit, the pulling off one, often damages the 

 foot ftalk of the other, and occafions its dropping. 



As to thinning the haves of wall trees, too much 

 liberty mould not be taken, though in fome meafure it 

 may be neceffary to give colour and ripenefs to the 

 iruit. Thinning away a few leaves, where thick, is 

 lerviceable to ripening the wood to form blofforns. 

 When leaves are greatly multiplied, and made the fruit 

 much, a few at a time may be difplaced, if the fruit is 

 nearly full grown, but rather by pinching or cutting 

 the leaves, juft above the foot ffalk, than by pulling. 



In gathering wall fruit, do not pinch it to try if it is 

 ripe, but give it a gentle lift, and if fit for eating, it 

 will readily part from the foot ftalk. Thok peaches and 

 nectarines that drop by their ripenefs are yet good 

 (fome fay belt) lor the table; but apricots have a 

 i'maner and more agreeable flavour before they are 

 thoroughly ripe. 



Aj to the dropping of fruit when it has attained to 

 fome little fize, in very light foils, it may be owing to 

 drought, ufe watering therefore deep and wide. But 

 the caufe feems often to be fome injury from infers, 

 or f roils, that the embry) fruit has fuffered at the foot 

 ftalk, which can only fultain its burthen for a while, 



and then its own weight breaks it off. See p. 51. 



- 



Vines require frequent attention, as to pruning and 



training; but all will avail little, if they have not a 



H 2 warm 



