Remarks on pi'uning Apple Trees, 201 



mit a regular expansion either of the root or the branch -^ 

 es ; besides, the removal, however careful, often kills 

 them, or causes a lingering decay. An accurate in- 

 spection of the roots is necessary, for taking away any 

 carious parts, and worms, and also for cutting off those 

 that cross each other, or are too close. None but long 

 ramblers ought to be shortened ; and they should be 

 spread equidistant, so far ate is practicable, which may 

 be facilitated by wooden pegs. The too common fault 

 of squeezing them into small holes, has ruined many 

 trees ; they must be wide enough to extend at least 

 one foot beyond the limits of the longest roots, and the 

 mould be made quite mellow. 



A tree well pruned, planted, and secured by stakes 

 against violent winds, requires frequent attention for 

 some years : — the sprouts that come from the places 

 of the removed branches, must be rubbed off at their 

 first appearance ; so likewise all that would produce 

 irregular boughs, whether crowding, crossing, or 

 shooting too upright from the regular branches : ne^v 

 tiers are to be formed at proper distances, as the trees 

 advance : moss, insects, and any filth must be scraped 

 off without damaging the bark : the roots must also 

 be examined near the surface of the earth, as worm.s 

 have lately been observed to corrode the bark. 



When a tree has by this management acquired an 

 habit of regular growth, it will be easy to keep it in 

 good order. 



When, by neglect, irregular branches have become 

 large, as beyolid a diameter of two and an half inches, 

 it is unsafe to cut them off, but some of their smaller 

 VOL. III. r r 



