TYING UP THE FRUITING LIMBS. 355 



Tying and staking the limbs. Sometimes the 

 branches are so laden with fruit as to bend ahnost 

 to the earth, and to give the cultivator great anxiety 

 lest they should break and disfigure his trees. 

 Although there is not much to be feared when a 

 proper regard has been paid to the rules of pruning, 

 which would so distribute and develop the limbs 

 that each would be stiff and strong, also to the 

 thinning which would regulate the strain, yet it is 

 to be expected that some cultivators will neglect 

 them. Such will be apt to find their fruit is all 

 upon the tips of the branches, while the stronger 

 portions, which are best able to bear the strain, are 

 entirely free from fruit. T],y.s is owing to the amount 

 of superfluous wood which was allowed to grow, 

 which caused a want of light, and of proper circu- 

 lation of the air. Such limbs evidently need sup- 

 port. This necessity is not always the result of bad 

 cultivation, for trees are often taxed beyond the 

 strength of endurance, especially those which have 

 brittle wood. Support can be given them either by 

 strings fastened to some higher portions of the tree, 

 or by the use of stakes fixed in the ground. The 

 latter is much the better way. If strings are used, 

 they should be of very soft material, and should not 

 be fastened tightly about the tree, but abundant 

 room should be left for a free circulation of the sap. 

 The usual method of support is illustrated in the 

 figure : 



