104 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEX. 



tatious splurge ; and many of them come 

 to no result at last. * Usually, the more 

 show of leaf and wood, the less fruit. 

 This melancholy reflection is thrown in 

 here in order to make dog-days seem 

 cheerful in comparison. 



One of the minor pleasures of life is 

 that of controlling vegetable activity 

 and aggressions with the pruning-knife. 

 Vigorous and rapid growth is, however, 

 a necessity to the sport. To prune 

 feeble plants and shrubs is like acting 

 the part of dry-nurse to a sickly orphan. 

 You must feel the blood of Nature bound 

 under your hand, and get the thrill of 

 its life in your nerves. To control and 

 culture a strong, thrifty plant, in this 

 way, is like steering a ship under, full 

 headway, or driving a locomotive with 

 your hand on the lever, or pulling the 

 reins over a fast horse when his blood 

 and tail are up. I do not understand, 



