SECT. XII. F PRUNING. 1 39 



niuch formality, and such a mathematical disposition 

 of the branches are not necessary. A tree may be 

 regular, without, being linear, and the proper useful 

 shoots are not to be Sacrificed to a fanciful precision. 

 Though crossing of branches is against rule, yet 

 cases may happen (as in want of wood or fruit) where 

 even this awkwardness may be permitted. The ob- 

 ject is fruity and to obtain this end, form must some- 

 times give place. " Barrenness being the greatest 

 defect, crossing must not be scrupled, when barren- 

 ness cannot otherwise be avoided."' A tree may be 

 in fair symmetry, and yet badly pruned; and thus 

 some ignorantly, and others cunningly, put trees in 

 order without a proper selection of branches, so that 

 the best shall be cat out, and the worst left, merely 

 because the latter suits the form better, and gives a 

 favourable appearance to the work as regular. 



All fore-right and back shoots, and other useless 

 wood, should be displaced in time, tor they exhaust 

 the strength of the tree to no purpose, and occasion a 

 rude appearance. It is a very expeditious method 

 to displace superfluous young shoots, by pushing, or 

 breaking them off; but when they get woody, it is 

 apt to tear the bark, and, in this case, the knife must 

 be used; the better way is to dis-bud by rubbing; 

 yet a young luxuriant tree should be suffered to grow 

 a little wild to spend the sap. There is one evil, 

 however, attending on dis- budding, and rubbing off 

 young fore-rights, that some fruit spurs are thus 

 lost; for apricots are apt to bear on little short 

 shoots, of from half an inch to an inch, (or a;ore) 

 and there are peaches which do the same; so that it 

 is a rule with some pruneKS to wait to distinguish 

 spurs from shoots, and then to use the knife; yet USQ 

 it as little as may be in summer. 



In regulating a tree, at any time, begin at the 

 bottom and middle, and work the way orderly up- 



