SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. 173 



more erectly, as the weight of the fruit is found too 

 much for those branches that grow downwards, or 

 quite horizontal. 



Gooseberries and currants may be ranked under 

 the denomination of dwarf trees, and the principle 

 of pruning them will be the same, as for other 

 standard trees ; only more frequently cutting out 

 old wood, to make room for a succession of young. 

 The keeping these trees, or bushes, more open than 

 they commonly are, would improve the fruit in size 

 and flavour, and bring it forwarder ; yet some of 

 them should be suffered to grow rather full of wood, 

 in order to keep the fruit longer, especially in a 

 northern aspect of the garden, or some shady place; 

 and if to this situation and fulness, be added matting 

 or netting, they may be preserved till November. 



The time of pri jing these trees, is commonly held 

 to be indifferent, and any time between leaf and leaf 

 may be adopted to cut them as opportunity offers. 

 But when they are getting into leaf is (perhaps) the 

 best time ; as when pruned early , there is frequently 

 a loss of almost the whole fruit, by birds eating the 

 buds. Leaving the whole head on till spring^ is a 

 security as to a crop of fruit, as the case would be 

 bad indeed, if some good branches are not left, pro- 

 perl v furnished with uninjured buds; but still it is 

 allowed, that an early pruning strengthens the. tree, 

 and tends to enerease the size of the fruit. 



Currant trees need not to be kept so open as 

 gooseberry, the branches of which should be (for 

 fine fruit) five or six inches asunder, and as little; 

 shortened as possible. Those sorts of gooseberries 

 whose shoots grow in a curved manner, may have 

 their long branches, when in fruit, supported witU 

 little forked sticks. Keep these trees clear of suck- 

 ers, and all shoots from the stem, that are within 

 nine or ten inches of the ground. 



