SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. IGF 



Arong) left perpendicular, being cut down to a few 

 eyes : or if the tree is fomewhat old, and has a good 

 root, more well-placed fhootb may be left on, keeping 

 the lowermoil longer than the upper by two or three 

 eyes, making the upper ones very ihort. If thefe di- 

 rections are properly obferved, an efpalier (or a wall}; 

 Will be properly and prefently filled with branches. 



The beft time for heading down is the Jp ring, though 

 when trees are planted early in autumn, it ??iay be 

 then done. All cuts mould be clafe beiiind an eye- 

 When a ftrong Hem is to be cut down at fpring, 

 remember to place the foot againft it, to keep the. 

 root in its place, and ufe a {harp knife* 



Heading down is advifed to be deferred till fpring* 

 not only on account of frofts pofhbly injuring the top 

 eye of the frefh cut ihoots; but becaufe the head of a, 

 tree helps to pufh out roots. The properefl time to 

 prune the heads of new planted trees, is when new 

 roots are formed; and then a head difproportioned to 

 the roots fhould by no means be fuftered, as the new 

 moots in fuch cafe would be too weak to be healthy, 

 or fruitful. For planting efpaliers, &c. See page 06* 



S. OF PRUNING STANDARD TREES- 



The principle of pruning Jlandard trees is the fame, 

 whether full, half or dwarf flandarda; and the ob- 

 ject is to iorm a compact handfome round and open 

 head rather fmall than large, equal on all fides, with 

 tolerably erett wood, capable (as far as the art of the 

 pruner can go) of fupporting the fruit without much 

 bending. Perfecl fymmetry indeed is not necefTary, 

 hut coufufion of branches, weak and cro fling, crowded 

 and dangling, is to be prevented by pruning ; for a 

 proper, (rather free) ufe of the knife, is capable of doing 

 much towards the beauty and fruitfulnefs of ftandard 

 trees. A little pruning of fiandards every year, and a 

 general one (rather free) every throe or four years, to. 



cut 



