51 



only precaution being to guard against an immature condition of wood 

 when frosts occur. 



Mistakes are sometimes made, in climates where the season of active 

 growth is comparatively short, in stimulating the plants to such a de- 

 gree that the wood fails to ripen thoroughly and the young shoots are 

 destroyed by frosts while in an immature state, giving rise to various 

 diseases, such as yellows in the peach, etc. When the trees reach the 

 fruit-bearing size, but give no evidence of fruit-bearing disposition, it 

 may be assumed that their barrenness is owing to excessive growth, 

 and it will therefore be in order to adopt some means of checking the 

 growth, and, as a consequence, induce the tree to bear fruit. Various 

 measures may be pursued to effect this object, but perhaps there is 

 none so simple and so easily applied as that of laying the orchard in 

 grass. The absence of all culture will speedily cause the formation of 

 fruit buds and satisfactory crops of fruit, and so long as this continues 

 no change need be made ; but if the trees become weak, from over- 

 bearing or from want of nourishment, top dressing of manure will 

 again renew their vigor ; and, further, if the trees appear stunted and 

 do not respond to surface stimulants, the grass may be plowed under 

 and a system of thorough culture inaugurated and kept up so long as 

 observation determines that it is the best practice to follow. 



The condition of the trees will, therefore be the best evidence as to 

 whether the orchard should be cultivated or kept in grass. Each 

 orchard will answer the question for itself. It is not a question as to 

 the advisability of establishing a system based upon either expedient, 

 although it is usually and erroneously submitted in that shape. 



Pruning is an operation of vast importance in the management of 

 trees, and the principles upon which it is founded must be clearly un- 

 derstood before complete success in fruit culture can be attained. 



Plants left to nature maintain a well-balanced reciprocal action be- 

 tween their branches and roots ; and every branch, bud, or leaf that is 

 removed must exercise an influence either injurious or beneficial, and 

 no one should attempt to remove branches unless they foresee the effects 

 and influence of such removals. 



The time of pruning, whether during the summer or during winter, 

 will depend upon the object to be attained ; a brief consideration of 

 plant growth will assist us in determining this question. 



When a seed is deposited in a suitable germinating medium, its first 

 effort is to send a root downwards in the earth, and then push a shoot 

 upwards in the air. The seed contains within itself all the nutriment 

 necessary for this process; but as soon as the young plant is so far 

 formed, its mode of existence is changed, and it becomes dependent upon 

 the soil and atmosphere for future support. 



