CULTIVATION OF BUDS. 61 



The quantity of guano will vary according as the quality 

 of the ground or character of the season varies, or as the 

 desire to have larger or smaller trees varies. Six hundred 

 pounds per acre will be sufficient in almost any instance, 

 and sometimes too much. 



PRUNING. 



As the young tree usually forms a single upright, 

 straight, and handsome stem, pruning is not essential. 

 Still it may sometimes be done with advantage. Espe- 

 cially will this be the case where the distance between 

 the trees has been increased by failure of buds or otlier 

 cause, thus giving them a tendency to throw out lateral 

 branches ; and if not done too early, it will generally be 

 beneficial. The advantage consists in confining the sap 

 within narrower bounds, and thus increasing the size 

 and height of the main stem, and also causing the wood 

 to mature earlier. The last is of considerable importance, 

 especially in northern localities, where it is often difficult 

 to obtain wood that will stand the next winter's freezing. 



The pruning may be done any time between the middle 

 of July and the middle of September, and will vary a 

 little in different latitudes. If done before the middle of 

 July, the succeeding growth will be so great as to par- 

 tially neutralize the effect ; while, if deferred beyond the 

 middle of September, it will be so little as to be of small 

 advantage. But, as before remarked, much will depend 

 upon the particular latitude, and something will depend 

 upon topographical and otlier specific causes. In pruning, 

 it is not generally advisable to cut away the limbs more 

 than to the height of two feet from the ground. If the 

 trees are large, three feet may not be too much ; and if 

 small, one may be enough. From one-third to one-half 

 the length of the tree will usually afford a safe rule ; one- 

 third, if the pruning be done early in the season, and 

 one-half, if late. 



