Domestic Notices. 183 



does not your mode come within the objection in Mr. Carmichaers article, 

 that there will not be leaves enough left to elaborate the amount of sap ne- 

 cessary to support the necessary functions of the tree, and thus stimulate 

 the remaining buds, (that is, the one or two to which you nip the shoot,) to 

 grow and become shoots instead of fruit-buds. I have seen the trees re- 

 ferred to by Mr. Bissell, and I should judge that he had practised stopping 

 them at from four to six inches ; and I found the first buds almost invaria- 

 bly on the wood of the previous years, and not on that of last summer. 

 Judging from what little experience I gained last summer, it seems to me, 

 that the best mode would be that recommended by Mr. Rivers, in your 

 August number, for 1848, page 361. I think the leading shoot, and the 

 fore right shoot being left on each branch, would have the effect to prevent 

 the buds on the shoots stopped, from pushing. (I stopped every shoot, at 

 ten or twelve inches.) But yet, this might not have the effect of checking 

 the tree enough to make it form fruit-buds. My experience does not guide 

 me in determining, it being so limited. Will you, if you have time and 

 space, give me a hint or two in reference to the above, before the time for 

 pruning next summer? It seems to me that your mode conflicts with that 

 of Mr. Carmichael. I have been anxiously looking for your promised ar- 

 ticle and plates, explanatory of pruning and training dwarfs. — Yours, dfc. 

 M. L. B., Lockporl, N. Y., February, 1849. 



[We are glad to aid our correspondent in any way which shall enable 

 him to accomplish the object he desires, viz., Dwarf pear trees with an 

 abundance of fruit-buds. We have ourselves found little or no difficulty in 

 pruning our young trees, so as to produce an abundance of fruit-buds, in 

 the space of three or four years, even on trees grafted upon the pear. And 

 we shall endeavor to give our promised article on summer pruning, with en- 

 gravings, in season to aid him, as well as other amateurs, who are looking for 

 the desired information, the coming summer. For the present, we will only 

 refer to one or two remarks in the above communication. At the page re- 

 ferred to, (Vol. XIV. p. 551,) where we appended a few words to the com- 

 munication of Mr. Bissell, we did not state that the shoots would become 

 covered with fruit-buds the same season they were pruned, though they 

 will do so on trees on the quince stock, and often upon the pear; but we 

 supposed it would be understood that short spurs would be formed, which 

 would, the succeeding year, perfect fruit-buds. There is no danger, by our 

 mode of pruning, of there not being leaves enough left to elaborate the 

 sap; an abundance of shoots are produced, and consequently a greater 

 number of leaves ; and what is of material consequence, and this is the 

 great benefit of summer pruning — every leaf is matured, and the sap 

 more equally elaborated all over the tree. 



The shoots first stopped will always push a second time, and, if so, they 

 are stopped again ; if they push a third time, they are again pinched off; 

 it will then be late in the season, the sap less abundant, and if the trees are 

 upon the quince, fruit-buds will often be formed at the eye next to where 

 the shoots were stopped last ; if not the same year, then the following one ; 

 but pinching has the effect of elongating the buds on the branch behto 



