FEB.] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 143 



general successional supply of young bearing wood, of the best well- 

 placed shoots of last summer, must now be retained in all parts of 

 the tree at moderate distances, to bear the fruit to be expected the 

 ensuing season, at the same time cut away all the ill-placed and super- 

 fluous shoots and very luxuriant growths, together with part of the 

 former year's bearers, &c., to make room for the successional bearing 

 shoots, as observed in January. 



As you proceed, let the supply of reserved shoots be shortened 

 each according to its strength. Shoots of a vigorous growth should 

 be shortened but a little ; that is you may cut off about one -fourth of 

 the original length ; those of a moderate growth should be shortened 

 more in proportion by cutting off about one-third ; for instance, a 

 shoot of eighteen inches should be shortened to twelve or thereabouts, 

 and observe the same proportion according to the different lengths of 

 the shoots, 



But for the more particular method of pruning these trees, see the 

 work of the fruit garden in January, pages 40, 41. 



PRUNING OF APPLES AND PEARS, ETC. 



Prune apples, pears, plums and cherries, against walls or espaliers; 

 and, if possible, let the whole of them be finished this month. 

 ' In pruning these trees, observe, as directed last month, that as the 

 same branches or bearers remain many years in a proper fruitful 

 state, continue them trained close and straight to the wall or espalier, 

 not shortening their ends, but still continue training each at full 

 length as far as the limited space admits, and laying them in about 

 four, five, or six inches asunder. 



In the next pkce observe, that if the branches be anywhere much 

 crowded, that is, if the bearing or principal branches are closer than 

 four, five, or six inches from one another, some should be pruned out : 

 observing, in this case, to take off such as are badly situated, and par- 

 ticularly such as appear to be the most unlikely to bear, by being 

 either worn out, or, at least, not well furnished with fruit-spurs, as 

 mentioned last month. Likewise observe, that when necessary to 

 make room in any particular part of the tree, to train more regularly 

 any eligible branches which are evidently well adapted for bearing ; 

 room must be made for them by cutting out such barren branches as 

 above described; and in any trees where the general branches are 

 trained considerably too close, and crowding in a confused irregular- 

 it} T , let some of the most unserviceable and irregular growths be cut 

 out in a thinning order, in different parts of such trees, to make room 

 for training the other more useful and eligible branches, in a proper 

 expansion, at regular distances. 



When any old or large branches are to be taken out, let them be 

 cut off close to the places from whence they arise, or to any eligible 

 lateral branches which they support, and that you shall think con- 

 venient to leave ; in cutting off either old or young branches never 

 leave any stumps. 



After cutting out any large branches, let such as remain near that 

 part be unnailed or unbound, in order to be brought higher or lower, 



