IMPORTANCE OF SUNSHINE. 305 



plant is iveak, strengthens that ivhich remains. This 

 was made so patent under the last head, that it 

 requires no additional remark. 



Fifth, it is important that the sunshine reach every 

 part of the tree. If a close, thick head is formed, the 

 leaves are crowded together, and none of them act 

 as freely as they might. Consequently, they are 

 weak, light-colored, sickly, and produce debility in 

 the whole tree. But if a part of the limbs is 

 removed, or never allowed to form, so that each 

 leaf can expand independently in the sunshine, the 

 foliage becomes active and healthy. Although the 

 number of leaves is diminished, yet their superficial 

 area is increased, and the strength and longevity of 

 the tree augmented. 



The pear tree naturally grows to a considerable 

 height, having a bare stem of several feet, and a 

 spreading top, upon the exterior of which the fruit 

 is produced, when it has access to the sunshine. 

 One of the objects of pruning is to dispose of this 

 bare stem, and keep the tree in such limits as will 

 be within reach of the operator, and so low as to be 

 protected from winds which would otherwise throw 

 off the fruit. But as the tendency of the plant is 

 always upward, it will soon go beyond the boundary 

 unless we prune it. If this be merely the cutting 

 back of those shoots which exceed the limit pre- 

 scribed, the tree will soon become filled with brush, 

 to the exclusion of sunshine and of worthy fruit. 

 26* 



