OF FRUIT TREES. 45 



branches on the opposite quarters, to keep the sun 

 from the trunk ; otherwise, the rays of that lumina- 

 ry, when striking at nearly right angles, will kill the 

 bark, bring on canker, and ruin the tree. In Mar- 

 shal's Rural Economy, we have the following di- 

 rections. In pruning the plants, the leading shoot 

 should be particularly attended to. If it shoot 

 double, the weaker of the contending branches 

 should be taken off. If the leader be lost and not 

 easily recoverable, the plant should be cut down to 

 within a hand's breadth of the soil, and a fresh stem 

 trained. Next to the leader, the stem boughs re- 

 quire attention. The undermost boughs should be 

 taken off by degrees ; going over the plants every 

 winter; always cautiously preserving sufficient heads 

 to draw up the sap, thereby giving strength to the 

 stems, and vigour to the roots and branches ; not 

 trimming them up to naked stems, as is the common 

 practice, thereby drawing them up prematurely tali 

 and feeble in the lower part of the stems. T he 

 thickness of the stem ought to be in proportion to 

 its height ; a tall stock therefore requires to remain 

 longer in the nursery than a low one. We have 

 the respectable authority of Mr. T. Pickering, that 

 such trees as are tall should be cut down close to 

 the ground, to prevent their being shaken by the 

 wind, and to promote their growth. It may seem 

 strange, he observes, to advise the cutting down a 

 tall, well-grown plant, yet it is necessary ; for the 

 roots are always hurt and shortened by the remov- 

 al ; it is impossible for those that remain, to nourish 

 the same body ; this is the reason we so often find 

 our trees dead at top and hide-bound. Should my 

 directions, he says, be followed, which are from 

 thirty years experience, such vigorous shoots will 

 spring up, as will in ten years become much larger 

 4rees than if they had stood uncut for forty years ; 

 and the bark and every appearance of the tree will 

 be like one from the seed, and much trouble will be 



