8 FRUIT BOOK. 



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 vig- 

 orous 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, however, will promote health and early 

 fruitfulness. Trees, even of the same species, dif- 

 fering as they do in form of growth, require very 

 different treatment. Coxe, of New Jersey, recom- 

 mends the practice of forming the heads of trees 

 in the nursery the year before they are removed. 

 Every limb which crosses another should be taken 

 off; the external branches, particularly in apple and 

 pear trees, should be every where rendered thin and 

 pervious to the sun. The great principle to be at- 

 tended to in pruning apple trees, is cutting out all 

 dead, diseased, or useless branches, at their base, 

 and thinning those that are healthy and vigorous, so 

 that the sun and air may penetrate to, (not through) 

 every part of the tree. Few people have confidence 

 enough to do this effectually ; but they may be as- 



