40 PRUJVIA'G OF 



CHAPTER XI. 



1 -v.c- 



ON PRUNING OF ORCHARDS. 



There is no branch of the management of orchards 

 less understood, or more unskilfully performed, than 

 the operation of pruning: a belief of its necessity is so 

 general, that even the most careless will seldom omit 

 it such however, is the want of skill in many of the 

 operators, that total neglect would be less prejudici- 

 al, than their performance of it. If judiciously done, 

 pruning promotes health and early fruitfulness : and 

 will continue a tree in vigour, long after the common 

 period of its duration. Nothing has contributed more 

 to the imperfect knowledge of this operation, than the 

 wordy and unintelligible systems which have been 

 published respecting it : in a mere practical system, 

 it is unnecessary to lay much stress on wood branches 

 and fruit branches; which, however well understood 

 by an observing intelligent gardener, can scarcely be 

 comprehended by the labourer, employed in the busi- 



