OF FRUIT TKEE3* 6T 



trees should be left substantially the same, that the 

 ascending juices may continue, as much as possible, 

 in their established channels. Care must be taken 

 not too cut away too many large limbs at a time, lest 

 too large a portion of the sap should remain inactive, 

 and thus occasion mischief. Always prune at a fork, 

 and remove the lower branch, that the wound may be 

 on the lower side rather than the upper side. All 

 large limbs should be cut first at some distance from 

 the place where they are to be pruned, as the weight 

 may peel the bark, and leave a bad wound ; and in 

 order to prevent the same accident, the bark, on the 

 under side, should be cut through before the limb is 

 amputated. In every instance, after sawing off the 

 branch, let the bark and edges of the stump be pared 

 close and smooth with a sharp knife, and immediately 

 apply the composition so as to cover the whole surface 

 of the wound. This is more especially necessary 

 when the operation is performed in a cold season, be- 

 fore the sap is in circulation. By this procedure the 

 new growth or healing process immediately commen- 

 ces, and instead of an unseemly rotten cavity, as in 

 the old method, the wound will, during the season, if 

 not large, be completely healed over, and the tree re- 

 main sound and flourishing. It is to be observed, that 

 the fruit of the apple tree is produced on short, thick, 

 side, or terminal shoots or spurs, from one to two or 

 three inches long. These spurs naturally proceed 

 from branches two, three, or "four years old, arid as 

 these branches increase in length, the fruit spurs in- 

 crease in number, and they continue to be fruitful for 

 several years. Mr. Forsyth always leaves the branch- 

 es of three different years on the tree, and thus keeps 

 them in a constant bearing state ;* whereas, if left to 

 nature, they would only produce a crop of fruit once 

 in two or three years. All old ragged spurs, ami use- 

 less snags and twigs, should be taken off close to the 

 7 



