HOETICTJLTUEAL PROCESSES. 69 



the exercise of more knowledge, judgment, and skill, iu order 

 to the attainment of complete success ; but in general no opera- 

 tion is more carelessly, ignorantly, and bunglingly performed, 

 or more frequently neglected. 



Pruning to promote the growth of a tree proceeds upon the 

 principle that the sap which would have been appropriated 

 to the support of the branches, or parts of the top, taken off, 

 will go to increase the vigor of the parts which remain. This 

 is true within certain limits, but the process must not be car- 

 ried too far. Sufficient top must he left to supply leaves for 

 the elaboration of the sap. 



Young trees, two or three years from the seed, or one year 

 from the graft, are not infrequently headed down to two or 

 three buds, on purpose to strengthen their growth. A single 

 bud is then trained vertically, and the rest pruned away in the 

 course of the summer. In such cases, the growth of the top 

 being attended with a corresponding increase of fibrous roots, 

 the tree at once becomes vigorous and healthy. 



Peach trees, in our climate, are highly benefited by thus 

 shortening-in annually, in the spring, one half, or thereabouts, 

 of their entire growth of the previous summer, aU. over the 

 heads of the trees. 



Dwarf pears on quince also require a similar heading-in, an- 

 nually each spring, so long as they continue to make a growth 

 of scions. 



Pruning to improve the form is applied mostly to ornamental 

 trees, to which almost any desirable shape may be given by 

 this means. If one part of a tree should outgrow another part, 

 the former may be shortened-in in winter, and the shoots pinched 

 off the next summer, tih the sap is thrown in the right direc- 

 tion into the weaker branches, and the balance restored. 

 When you desire the new shoots of a branch to take an upright 

 direction, prune to an inside bud ; while, if you wish an open, 

 spreading top, prune to an outside bud, etc. Do not trim the 

 stems or trunks of your trees (whether ornamental or fruit- 

 trees) to bare poles, but allow the branches to form near the 



