348 WEEDING. 



is shortened, the remaining buds are stimulated, and those imme- 

 diately below the section seldom fail to produce shoots, even although 

 they would have otherwise remained dormant. The lowest buds on 

 the base of a shoot do not generally become developed, unless the shoot 

 is cut or broken above them. They remain endowed with all their 

 innate vital power, although comparatively in a state of repose ; but 

 should the shoot on the base of which these buds are situated be 

 destroyed or amputated, very soon they are called into vigorous action, 

 producing supplementary shoots quite as strong as could be obtained 

 from any other buds more remote from the base. Were these buds 

 as prone to development as others, a mass of shoots and foliage would 

 be produced in the central parts, where the foliage could not have a 

 due share of light, an arrangement that would prove bad. They 

 must be looked upon as being placed in reserve for furnishing wood 

 shoots, whenever the primer chooses to stimulate their development by 

 amputating the portion of shoot above them. 



From this view of the properties belonging to the lowest-growing 

 buds, it is evident they are the most unlikely to become fruit-buds. 

 These are formed towards the extremities. In some cases they are 

 terminal ; but generally about two-thirds from the base is the situation 

 where fruit-buds are first formed, and in some kinds of fruit trees are 

 developed into blossom the following season, while in others the basis 

 of a spur is established. This spur sometimes continues slowly to 

 elongate for years before it produces fruit. According to the prin- 

 ciples of Seymour's training, the originating of the side branches from 

 buds near the base of the vertical central shoot is well provided for, 

 and this ought to be kept in view in every mode of training adopted. 

 In order to furnish well the lower part of a tree, it is necessary to pro- 

 cure strong branches, and these can be best obtained from the lower 

 part of a strong central shoot ; and in order that this shoot may have 

 sufficient strength, it must have a vertical position. Trees commenced 

 to be trained in nurseries have often the objectionable form imposed 

 upon them of an open centre, being deprived of an upright shoot and 

 set off like a V ; and similarly objectionable are the Montreuil U's and 

 other modes on- the same principle. With skilful management, these 

 modes do succeed in France ; but in the rich soil and humid climate of 

 Britain, the flow of sap cannot be equalized by any mode that admits 

 of a competition between vertical and horizontal branches. 



Weeding. 



A weed is any plant which comes up in a situation where it is not 

 wanted. It may be either an absolute weed, such as are all plants of 

 no known use 5 or a relative one, such as a useful plant where it comes 

 up and is not wanted among other useful plants, or on walks, walls, 

 &c. Weeds are injurious by depriving the soil of the nutriment 

 destined for other plants ; by depriving other plants of the space they 

 occupy, as in the case of weeds in beds of seedlings, and of broad- 

 leaved plants on lawns ; by their shade, when they are allowed to grow 



