64 QUINCE CULTURE. 



the bark of the stock, from too narrow a cross-cut to 

 receive the shield of the bud, from using immature 

 buds, from the shield being too short (it should be at 

 least an inch long), and from being loosely tied, so as to 

 dry out. The south side of a stock is dryer in summer, 

 and so is to be avoided. 



CHAPTER XL 

 PRUNING THE QUINCE. 



IN a natural condition we may regard it as a rule that 

 the tree will maintain a harmonious relation of all its 

 parts. The roots and branches will correspond with 

 each other. Every twig, bud, or leaf removed from the 

 top, and every fiber and spongelet cut off from the roots, 

 will hurt or help the tree. No one is competent to re- 

 duce the roots, or diminish the leaves and branches, 

 unless he possesses enough knowledge of the laws which 

 regulate the action of the organs-of vegetation to foresee 

 the effect which will follow such removals. J. Lindley 

 truly says: " If well-directed, pruning is one of the most 

 useful, and, if ill-directed, it is among the most mis- 

 chievous operations that can take place upon a plant." 



1. PRUNING AT TRANSPLANTING. As already stated 

 elsewhere, all bruised and decayed roots should be re- 

 moved ; but the case is different with healthy roots. We 

 must remember that every healthy and unmutilated root 

 which is removed is a loss of nutriment to the plant, and 

 that, too, at a time when it is least able to spare it; and 

 there can not be any advantage in the removal. The top 

 should always be cut back at this time, so as to preserve 

 a balance in its proportion to the reduced roots. If we 

 infringe on the reciprocal action which naturally exists 



