80 



or two from the trunk; the next year, they 

 may be cut in closely. Trimming up a small 

 tree to a tall, smooth trunk, too suddenly, has 

 a tendency to weaken its constitution, and to 

 permanently injure it. 



When the fruit cultivator does not do this 

 with his own hands, he should take especial 

 care to whom he entrusts it. Some cultivators 

 consider the whole family of pruning tools as 

 a nuisance, arguing that, by attending to the 

 trees in season, the whole business of pruning 

 can be accomplished, by the thumb and finger 

 only, pinching off, in the bud, what in fu- 

 ture years might make work for the saw or 



knife. 



kaii'i* 



II. PRUNING TO INDUCE FRUITFULNESS. 



Scientific primers have the power to extort 

 from their trees large crops of fruit. But they 

 well understand, that it is not always their 

 true interest to exercise their skill for this pur- 

 pose. Nor is this without reason: for erro- 

 neous opinions prevail in regard to the 

 productiveness of trees. The sap that pro- 

 duces fruit, is so much withdrawn from that 

 general circulation which causes the growth 



