lo'2 PRINCIPLES OF GARDENING. [CH. Ill, 



shaded locality, during the early stages of growth ; 

 and he may as certainly render them more dwarf, by 

 exposing them to a drier, and the brightest atmo- 

 sphere that they will healthily endure, and he can 

 command. By the former treatment, I have seen 

 heliotropes clustering round the pillars of a conserva- 

 tory to the height of fifteen feet. 



From the extension of the woody fibre being greater 

 and longer continued on one side of a stem or branch 

 than on its opposite side, it frequently becomes con- 

 torted. Gardeners usually endeavour to remedy this 

 by making an incision on the inner side of the cun^a- 

 ture, and then employing force to restore it to a rec- 

 tilinear form, causing a gaping wound, and mostly 

 failing to attain the object. If the incision be made 

 on the outer side of the curve, thus dividing the 

 woody fibres that continue to elongate most rapidly, the 

 branch or stem, \vith but slight assistance, will recover 

 its due form, and there will be no open wound. 



From the fact that there is invariably more wood}' 

 matter deposited on the side of a stem or branch which 

 is most exposed to the air and light, gardenei-s have 

 explained to them why those sides of their trained 

 trees which are nearest the wall, ripen, as they term 

 it, most slowly ; and are benefited by being loosened 

 from the wall so soon as they are relieved from tlieir 

 fruit. If they require any demonstration that tliis 

 explanation is correct, they need only examine the 



