174 PRINCIPLES OF GARDENING. [CH. V. 



by M. de Candolle and others, in a variety of the 

 gilUflower (Hesperus Matronalis), in varieties of the 

 anemone, ranunculus, and fraxinella {Dlctamnus 

 alius) ; in Ranunculus philonotis ; Campanula rapun- 

 culoides, Anemone nemorosa, Erysimum officinale, 

 and Scahiosa columbaria. 



To promote the production of blossoms, and the 

 maturity of the fruit they engender, is the usual ob- 

 ject of pruning and training — confessedly two of the 

 most difficult practices of the gardener's art ; for if 

 the branches are too much reduced in number, or 

 are unfavourably trained, the developement of leaves 

 is induced, and the production of blossom as propor- 

 tionately prevented. The reason for this has al- 

 ready been explained ; and in these pages, devoted to 

 the science rather than the practice of gardening, I 

 can add little more than a few hints upon the sub- 

 ject. The season for pruning must be regulated in 

 some degree by the strength of the tree ; for al- 

 though, as a general mle, the operation should not 

 take place mitil the fall of the leaf indicates that 

 vegetation has ceased, yet if the tree be weak, it 

 may be often performed mth advantage a little ear- 

 lier, but still so late in the autumn as to f)revent the 

 protmsion of fresh shoots. This reduction of the 

 branches before the tree has finished vegetating, di- 

 rects a greater supply of sap to those remaining, and 

 stores up in them the supply for increased growth 



