JULY.] TRAINING, &C. 54'7 



vso, by comparison. If they have two trees of a 

 kind, both healthy and well loaded, let the one be 

 thinned as above, and allow the other to produce 

 as it have been wont ; or thin it even to half the 

 extent. It will be found, that the tree fully thin- 

 ned will produce an equal, if not a greater weight 

 of fruit, and these incomparably more beautiful, and 

 higher in flavour. Observe, the comparison must 

 be made the same season, else it would not be fair ; 

 as the size and flavour of the fruit might be very 

 diflferent, according to the goodness or badness of 

 the weather in different years. 



Apples and pears should also be moderately thin- 

 ned, and good account woidd be found in the 

 practice. This should be done when the fruit is 

 about half grown, or when all apprehension of 

 its dropping is over. Nothing tends more to keep 

 fruit trees in good health, than regularly to thin 

 their over-abundant crops, and that always before 

 they begin to swell off for ripening ; for if this be 

 delayed till they are nearly full grown, the mischief 

 is, in a great measure, already done, both to the 

 tree and to the fruit left. 



Of training the Summer-shoots of JFall-Trees, 

 Continue to train in the shoots of all kinds of 

 wall and espalier trees, as directed last montli. Do 

 not shorten them on any account, unless the}' have 

 arrived at their goal j as that would make them 

 push a parcel of weak spray, which would not 

 ripen ; and so would require to be pruned away in 

 winter, or next spring. Many kinds push lateral 



