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TYING UP THE LIMBS. 



(a) represents the tree. 



(6) the limb loaded with fruit. 



(c) the point of attachment. 



(d) the stake to support the limb. 



(e) the weight of the fruit. 

 This method entirely defeats the 



object in view, and increases the danger of break- 

 ing the limb. While the strain was distributed 

 through the whole branch before the support was 

 used, it is thus concentrated at (c), which becomes 

 the fulcrum, wdiile that part of the limb beyond the 

 stake acts as the lever. 



The proper plan is the following: 



(a) again represents the tree. 



(6) the limb. 



(c) the point where the strain is 

 felt after being equally distributed 

 through the whole branch. 



(d) is the stake. 



In the first instance, when sufficient force is ap- 

 plied at (e) by the growth of the fruit, the limb 

 will break, while in the latter mode of treatment 

 the power must be enough to pull asunder the 

 very tissue of the wood before any damage can be 

 done. 



With some varieties the point of junction between 

 the stem of the fruit and the spur is not firm ; and 

 when these are cultivated so that they attain a 

 much larger size than they would naturally, it is 



