SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. 155 



tained by it : It has been /aid more may be, but I have 

 not feen it proved. 



The occasional pruning of pear trees during /ummer 

 is neceffary, left the ftrength of the tree be fpent in 

 vain, the fruit robbed and ihaded, and the extremities 

 impovcrifhed. Whether all the (hoots that are clearly 

 known to be wood moots (from their length) mould be 

 cut out during fummer, is a queftion, but proceed as 

 follows: 



Where fruit /purs are wanted, the moderate wood 

 fhoots may be left to grow to fome length, till the 

 wood is hardened, and then broke off to about fix 

 inches, which, being left to the winter pruning, may 

 be cut down to one eye, with the hope of getting & 

 fpur there. But even fair fpurs mould not be fuffered 

 to grow too thick : trees bearing fmall pears may have 

 theirs tour inches afunder, and the large fix. 



Several /ummer Ihoots will come out about the fruit 

 fpurs ; yet it is not advifeable to cut ail of them off a3 

 they appear, but only the ftrong and mo ft unfightly: 

 one moderate ihoot may be left to each, and fliortened 

 when the wood is hardened, to about fix inches, and 

 cut clean out at the general pruning. All fuperfluous 

 ihoots except thofe mentioned as allowed of, mould 

 be dilplaced while young; but though rubbing, or 

 breaking off, in all cafes are preferable to the kniie, da 

 not ufe this method when fhoots are fo big as to tear the 

 wood with them. Shoots irom /purs will never come 

 tu any t!»mg, and muftnot be trained. 



The time ior general or winter pruning of pear trees 

 ought to be November, as the bloffoms are then very 

 discernible, and at fpring pruning they get fo turgid 

 and tender, thatatmoft the leaft touch knocks them off, 

 or even the jarring of the tree. What is now to be cul 

 out will be underitood from what has been faid; only 

 when the bunches ot fpurs get too thick and projecting* 

 fome mull occa/ionally be removed, and a thin jharp 

 e-hiilel and mallet will do the "work well, where 



H6 the 



