98 PRUNING. [CHAP. V. 



This operation is called disbudding, and it is 

 highly efficacious in sparing the strength of 

 the tree. Many persons pinch off the points 

 of those shoots which appear to be running 

 too much to wood ; but, as this only excites 

 the branch to throw out fresh shoots, it is 

 much better to strip the superfluous branches 

 of their leaves as they appear; and, as when 

 thus treated they can produce no buds for 

 want of leaves, their growth will be checked 

 without injuring the tree, and they may be 

 safely removed in the winter pruning. The 

 vine is very apt to bleed when pruning has 

 been delayed too late ; and, in very strong 

 vigorous plants, the ascending sap sometimes 

 drops from the branches like rain. The 

 French, very poetically, call these drops the 

 tears of the vine. 



The uses to which pruning is applied are 

 various; but most commonly it is intended 

 either to improve the form of the tree, or to 

 make it bear more flowers and fruit than it 

 otherwise would do ; it is also used for re- 

 moving diseased or broken branches; and, in 

 cases of transplanting, for proportioning the 

 head to the roots. 



Pruning to improve the form of a tree, in 

 pleasure-grounds, is only required in those 

 cases where trees have grown under unfavour- 

 able circumstances, and where they have been 

 too much drawn up, or distorted in any man- 

 ner ; but, in useful plantations, it is necessary 

 to prepare trees for the purposes for which 

 they are intended. Thus, for example, a tree 

 intended for timber should have its side 



