PRUNINCK 89 



not being a heavy application, but only a thin coating, it 

 offers no impediment to the forming-lip of the new growth 

 as it closes over the wound. A bottle of this composition 

 at all times at hand, would be found a great convenience. 

 A shilling's worth of gum shellac dissolved in a quart of al- 

 cohol, is all that is necessary, and is immediately ready 

 for use. If too thick, it is at once rendered more liquid by 

 the addition of alcohol, and vice versa. The most convenient 

 way to use it, so that it may be instantly ready at all times, 

 is to fit into the cork of a large-mouthed bottle, a brush of 

 convenient size, the cork thus forming a sort of handle to 

 the brush, which remains within the bottle when not in use. 



II. PRUNING TO PROMOTE FRTJITFULNESS. 



The principles of this mode of pruning will perhaps be 

 best understood by a detail of the operation : 



In the early part of summer, or when the shoots have 

 grown about one foot, cut off about one inch from their grow- 

 ing points ; the sap, in consequence, no longer expends itself 

 to increase their length in the formation of useless wood 

 but is directed to the production of fruit. - Cutting back to 

 within two or three buds of the base, as often done, is ob- 

 jectionable, as not enough leaves are left for the elaboration 

 of sap, and to support the healthy functions of the tree ; 

 and this sudden diminution, induces the remaining buds to 

 make an effort to replace them by a second growth of leaves. 



In two or three weeks, give the trees a second examina- 

 tion, and where shoots are too crowded, thin them out by 

 cutting back so as to leave two or three buds at the base of 

 each. Again, near the close of summer, or early in autumn, 

 when the fruit requires more sun-light, and when there will 

 be no danger of the remaining buds being stimulated .to 

 growth, and when the leaves have nearly completed their 

 office, cut all the shoots back to two or three good buds. By 

 this mode, no half-ripened shoots, of mid-summer growth,will 

 be produced, but all will be strong, well matured, and 

 vigorous. 



The skilful operator will, however, avoid the extreme of 

 too much denuding the tree of leaves ; for they are at all 

 times indispensable to the ripening as well as the growth of 

 the fruit. An analogous case may serve to illn**"*** tir' 



