and other Fruit Trees fruitful. 61 



whence the term is derived, and, when the fruit is full-grown, 

 exhibit one of the most interesting scenes to be met with 

 within the confines of a garden. 



With regard to pruning, the knife should be used as spar- 

 ingly as possible ; I conceive it to be as injurious to this tribe 

 of fruit-trees, as the lancet is to animal life ; it creates those 

 inconveniences which it is employed to remove : whoever in- 

 dulges in its fi-ee use, most certainly defeats his own purpose. 

 Let any man who is inclined to dissent from this opinion, con- 

 sider the common thorn confined in a hedge, where it annually 

 imdergoes the operation of clipping, and the shrub in its pri- 

 mitive growth, and he will want no arguments to convince 

 him of the impropriety of the practice. But my plants require 

 very little assistance from the knife : they make no breast-wood, 

 the energies of the tree being chiefly engaged in forming blos- 

 som-buds for the future crop. 



It may be justly inferred, from what is here stated, that the 

 bad success which most gardeners have experienced in the 

 cultivation of this valuable fruit, arises principally from the 

 hixuriant state of their trees ; the limited space which they 

 occupy on the wall is so disproportionate to their natural 

 growth, that it is almost impossible, with deep and highly- 

 manured borders, to reclaim them from a habit of plethorical 

 sterility. The farina, and the whole fructification, partake of 

 this unhealthy condition ; and it may be observed, that fruits 

 fecundated with bad pollen scarcely ever resist the atmo- 

 spheric changes which they afterwards encounter. 



From observations made in vegetable physiology, I am per- 

 suaded that the tree is pi'incipally the produce of the earth, 

 and the fruit of the atmosphere ; a great diminution of vigour 

 may take place in the one, without any perceptible alteration 

 in the other. It is, therefore, the first object of the cultivator 

 to proportion the supply of nutriment to the extent of his tree, 

 and this will be best effected by the shallow border above de- 

 scribed. 



These are the remarks of a man long devoted to the diffi- 

 culties of his profession, such as have been suggested by 

 nature, and confirmed by experience ; and if they are found to 

 be sufficiently instructive for the pages of your useful miscel- 

 lany, I shall feel happy in being numbered amongst your 

 many correspondents. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 October 24. 1828. Robert Hiver. 



