116 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



ly turns to the growing parts that have not been pinch- 

 ed ; this remedy is applicable to trees in all forms. 



" (6.) Lay in the strong shoots on the trellis early, and 

 leave the feeble parts loose as long as possible. Laying in 

 the strong parts obstructs the circulation of the sap in 

 them, and consequently favors the weak parts that are 

 loose. This is only applicable to espaliers. 



u (7.) In espalier trees, giving the feeble parts the benefit 

 of the light and confining the strong parts more in the 

 shade, restores a balance, for light is the agent which en- 

 ables leaves to perform their functions and v their action on 

 the roots, and the parts receiving the greatest proportion 

 of it acquire the most vigorous development. 



"2. The sap acts with greater force and produces more 

 vigorous growth on a branch or shoot pruned short than 

 on one pruned long. This is easily explained. The 

 sap, acting on two buds, must evidently produce a great- 

 er development of wood on them than if it were divided 

 between fifteen or twenty buds. 



" It follows from this, that if we wish to obtain wood 

 branches, we prune short, for vigorous shoots produce 

 few fruit-buds. On the contrary, if we wish to obtain 

 fruit branches, we prune long, because the most slender 

 or feeble shoots are the most disposed to fruit. 



" Another application of this principle is to prune short, 

 for a year or two, such trees or parts as have been enfee- 

 bled by overbearing. (This principle deserves especial 

 attention, as its application is of great importance.) 



" 3. The sap tending always to the extremities of the 

 shoots causes the terminal bud to push with greater vigor 

 than the laterals. According to this principle, when we 

 wish a prolongment of a stem or branch, we should prune 

 to a vigorous wood-bud, and leave no production that can 

 interfere with the action of the sap on it. 



" 4. The more the sap is obstructed in its circulation, 

 the more likely it will be to produce fruit-buds. This 



