OF FRUIT TREES* 67 



found the wood becomes dry, large cavities are form- 

 ed, which rapidly extend towards the trunk and heart r 

 and the tree is soon deprived of its health and vigour, 

 This unskilful procedure has so long heen in practice, 

 that it need excite no surprise, that a large proportion 

 ot our old orchards exhibit a mortifying, disgusting 

 spectacle of dead branches, rotten stumps and hollow 

 trunks, verging to total ruin. The greatest cause of 

 surprise is that our intelligent farmers should suffer 

 their valuable land, year after year to be encumbered 

 with suc;h worthless lumber, fit only for the resort of 

 Termin and insects ; for it may be observed that the 

 more delicate feathered tribe disdain to occupy such 

 detestable ruins for the purpose of rearing their brood. 

 The long life of different orchards, soil and situ- 

 ation being equal, will depend, it is said, more on ju- 

 dicious pruning than on any other circumstance. 

 Young trees differ much in their natural form and ten- 

 dency, and the mode of pruning should vary accord- 

 ingly. The peculiarity of growth, which character- 

 izes each kind, is easily discovered when from four to 

 five or six years old ; and this is the most favourable 

 period to complete what was begun in the nursery, 

 for the purpose of correcting any natural defects in 

 their fofm, and giving the proper direction in their 

 future growth. The most proper season for pruning 

 fruit trees, unquestionably is when the sap-juice is in 

 active motion toward the extreme branches. In our 

 New England climate, we have the clearest indica- 

 tions that the sap commences its circulation about the 

 10th of April. From this period to about the last of 

 May, whether the buds are just opening, or the blos- 

 soms fully expanded, the pruning should be accom- 

 plished. It would, for certain reasons, however, seem 

 advisable not to delay the operation after the middle 

 of May, as the branches are then so charged with a 

 full flow of sap, that the bark would be apt to pee), 



