CHAPTER XV. 



PRUNING. 



fRUNING is universally adopted by nature. In 

 the forest all the branches of the little oaks and 

 pines are near the ground. But as the trees grow 

 these lower branches die and drop off. A few years 

 later we behold thousands of graceful, well-trimmed 

 trunks. Where the oak grows up in the open field 

 its method is to prune the inner branches and ex- 

 tend the surface, giving what fruit-growers call an 

 open head. The grape-vine prunes itself. Where 

 its branches are thickest the tendrils first strangle 

 and then cut off some of the excessive branches. 

 It is the Divine plan. ' ' I am the true vine, and 

 my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in 

 me that beareth not fruit, he cutteth away ; and 

 every branch that beareth fruit, he pruneth it that it 

 may bear more fruit." Wise is the man who will 

 follow such teaching. Happy is the man who has 

 a taste for such work and can take up the voca- 

 tion first taught man when " the Lord God put him 

 into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep 

 it ;" especially where he can dress a garden of this 

 golden fruit a relic of Eden that is " pleasant 

 to the sight and good for food. ' ' 



