136 OF PRUNING. SECT. XTT, 



attended with peculiar evils, equally mischievous; 

 for ['Fall-frees are presently spoiled by either prac- 

 tice. If they are too full of wood, the shoots and 

 fruits cannot be properly ripened, and if they are 

 too thin, the consequence of the catting that has 

 made them so, is the production of wood, rather 

 than fruit, forcing out shoots, where otherwise blos- 

 som buds would have been formed. The designa- 

 tion of trees to a wall necessarily occasions cutting, 

 and on the skilful use of the knife much depends ; 

 but let not the ingenious young gardener be discou- 

 raged at the appearance of difficulty : a little study, 

 practice, and perseverance, will clear the way, and 

 if he does not become a complete pruner at once, he 

 will be so in a reasonable time, and the work will 

 prove one of the pleasantest amusements he can have, 

 not attended with fatigue. 



Every one who has wall-trees cannot keep a pro-* 

 Jessed gardener, nor is every one who calls himself 

 ' so, qualified to prune properly. It is a great mor- 

 tification to a man, who wishes to see his trees in 

 order, not to be able to get an operator to attend 

 them ; let him then resolve to learn the art himself \ 

 and the ability will be very gratifying to him. 



Proud of his well-spread walls, he views, his trees 

 That meet (no barren interval between) 

 With pleasure more than ev'n their fruits afford, 

 Which, save himself \vhq trains them, none can feel. 



GOWPER. 



As many words must be used on this article prun- 

 ing, for the sake of a little order, and the appearing 

 less tedious, the business of managing wall-trees may 

 fre thus divided : 1. Concerning the FORM. 2. 

 The HEALTH. 3. The FRUITFULNESS of them. 

 A tree may be kept in good form, but be neither 

 healthy HQV fruitful, and may be both in good 



