230 PRUNING. 



it ought to be. In pruning this specimen at the time of 

 planting, the lower branches must either be shortened 

 very slightly, in order to get a strong bud for a leader, 

 or they must be left entire, while those above will be cut 

 close ; where we want the longest and strongest branches, 

 there we leave the most wood. 



The most important pruning performed upon a tree is 

 the first one, for it is this which makes all future manage- 

 ment easy and successful, or difficult and unsatisfactory. 

 This is the reason why it has appeared necessary to treat 

 of it so minutely. Having encountered all the difficulties 

 that others are likely to encounter, and having described 

 them and pointed out the means by which they are to be 

 overcome, it is believed that the matter has been made so 

 plain, that any man of ordinary intelligence, and possess- 

 ing the slightest knowledge of tree culture, can take his 

 knife and prepare his trees in such a manner as to give 

 him a most reasonable hope of attaining his ends. We 

 now proceed to the 



Summer management of trees thus cut back. We will 

 first consider the case of the yearling without branches. 

 If it has been cut low enough, as directed, nearly all the 

 buds below the cut will push. As a space of six to twelve 

 inches should be kept clear between the ground and the 

 first or lowest tier of branches, such shoots as may appear 

 on that part will be rubbed off at once. Of the re- 

 maining ones, a certain number, three to six, according to 

 the length of the stem, will be reserved. These must be 

 the strongest, and properly situated on the stem, within 

 eight to ten inches of space between each branch, and 

 that immediately above it, and regularly placed on all 

 sides of the stem. Some recommend leaving on all the 

 shoots that are produced the first season ; but in certain 

 cases this would be bad practice, for if the buds be very 

 close, the shoots would be so numerous that the strength 

 of all would be impaired, and much pruning would 



