FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 79 



and some varieties of the cherry ; the second, the 

 weeping, in the weeping willow and the native Ame- 

 rican elm ; the third, forming the shape of a dome, 

 is generally represented in most kind of apple trees, 

 and the conical is often beautifully represented in 

 the cherry and many kinds of pears when young. 

 To this kind of port or habit of trees there are many 

 exceptions or at least variations, which never fail to 

 happen as the trees are far advanced in years ; for 

 although all these different habits will appear in trees 

 when in their youth or healthy state of growth, old 

 age will deform them a limb at a time until their 

 symmetry is entirely lost. 



In the act of pruning, the first thing to be attend- 

 ed to, is the port or habit of the tree, which should 

 in all cases be kept in its natural order by pruning it 

 in such a manner as to encourage the most healthy 

 parts of the tree. The next thing to be attended 

 to, is in procuring proper tools for the purpose, 

 which should be of the best quality. 



In pruning trees, it should be recollected that all 

 shoots which are amputated from the tree whilst 

 young, heal their wounds better than when old, and 

 that the shoots should 'be so taken off, as to leave 

 the wound on the tree in a sloping manner down- 

 wards, to let off the water freely. Water settling 

 on the wounds of trees, often saturates and decays 

 them, and also the trunk of the tree. 



ART. 6. On Thinning and Regulating Fruit . 



Much might be said on the subject of thinning 

 fruit ; indeed, in some cases, it may be said to be 



