8 FRUIT BOOK. 



Standard fruit trees should be allowed thirty or 

 forty feet distance ; let none be planted closer 

 than twenty feet in a garden ; dwarf trees, from 

 twelve to fifteen feet. 



PRUNING. 



In this department of culture, no explicit direc- 

 tions will indiscriminately apply to each variety 

 of fruit trees. Peaches, cherries, and plums, are 

 always in the greatest vigor when they are the 

 least maimed by the knife ; for when these trees 

 have large amputations, they are very subject to 

 gum and decay ; so that it is certainly the most 

 prudent method, with stone fruit particularly, 

 carefully to rub off all useless buds, when they 

 appear. Fruit trees in this latitude should not 

 be pruned in the fall or winter months, as they 

 are at those times exceedingly apt to crack or 

 canker. The best season for this work is at, or 

 soon after, the swelling of the buds or expanding 

 of the leaves ; the sap being then in vigorous 

 motion, the wounds soon heal over. Every limb 

 taken off should be cut close to the main stem ; 

 and, provided the limb is large, a composition of 

 tar and red ochre, or grafting wax, should be 

 spread upon the end to keep out air and moisture. 

 From the strong growth of fruit trees in our 

 country, and the dryness of its atmosphere, 

 severe pruning is less necessary here than in 

 England, from whence we have derived many of 

 our instructions* Excessive pruning with us is 

 apt to generate suckers, or what is termed water 

 shoots, from the limbs. Judicious pruning, how- 

 ever, will promote health and early fruitfulness. 



