SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. 151 



be left on, and when it gets long, then fhortened down 

 to an eye or two. 



In order to fruitfulnefs, vines will need drejjlng with 

 fome fort of manure, for though they grow in vineyard 

 countries on rocky hills, and in very mallow foils, and 

 have done fo on fome chalky, hot, gravelly hills in 

 England, yet fome warm manure they mull generally 

 have applied, or they will produce little good fruit. 



Some people are very fond of expofmg the fruit of 

 the vine to the full fun, by dripping off leaves ; but this 

 fhould not be practiced till the bunches have attained 

 their proper fize, needing only to be ripened, and even 

 then but little mould be done in this way : The lofs of 

 haves is an injury to every plant. 



****** 



Fig trees are beft pruned early in Otloher, (cutting 

 the leaves off) but the more ufual time is early in fpring % 

 as after an autumn cutting (if late) they are apt to die 

 down; but if not completely pruned a^ihis time, let, 

 at leaft, flragglers be taken oux, and the reft laid in ciofe 

 without {training: Thus they will be more conveniently- 

 covered. 



The mode of bearing in the fig is, that fruit chiefly 

 comes the prefent year on the little moots from wood 

 of the preceding, and that towards the ends of the 

 branches; which circumftances dictate the rules for 

 pruning : Two years old wood will bear fome, but 

 older wood never. 



The moots, during fummer; are to be laid in at full 

 length, plentifully, as room will permit. The weak, 

 ill-placed, or fuperabundant ones, cut clean out; yet 

 rather break, or rub them off, in an early date' of 

 growth, for cutting branches or ihoots in fummer is apt 

 to make them bleed, as it is called j i. e. the fap run ; 

 when cut in auiuir.n, the fig will fometuncs bleed for a 

 H * day 



