I6ci AGltiCULTUllAL IJUSEUM 



sects § an opportunity ofg^ettiriigf between the wood and 

 the bark, where they arc very destructive. 



Any surijcon Icnows that a \vo:ind extending to the 

 iine membrane, covering the bones of the iiunian ho(!y, 

 requires much more skill to cure than a flesh wound, 

 and the case is similur. 



Pruning is an important article wiMi regaid to the 

 health of trees, and their bearing; and, if judiciously 

 done, they will come into bearing sooner, and continue in 

 vigour for nearly double their common jil,-.; : but the sys- 

 tems of pruning are so wordy, thatthc common farmer 

 cannot understand them ; and tlie gardener thinks the 

 orchard beneath his care, for wliieh reason It is left to na- 

 ture and the winds; for, the farmer, afraid of doing 

 wrong, never troubles himself about it, unless, seeing a 

 branch half-broken, he takes his bill, and knocks it off, 

 perhaps four or five inches from the trunk, leaving an 

 imsightly stump. Do not imagine this is intended 

 as any reproach ; for there are no men who spend their 

 time more judiciously in their vocation, but tiiey cannot 

 run into speculations ; if they did, little rent would be 

 paid. I give no attention to fruit branches and wood- 

 branches, as being unnecessary in the present instance; 

 and beg, once for all, that no branch shall ever be short- 

 ened, unless for the figure of the tree, and then constant- 

 ly taken off close at the separation, by which means the 

 wound soon heals. The more the range of the branches 

 shoots circularly, a little inclining upwards, the more 

 equally will the sap be distributed, and the better will 

 the tree bear ; for from that circumstance, the sap is more 

 evenly impelled to evejy part. Do not let the ranges 

 of branches be too near each other ; for remember, all 

 the fruit and the leaves should have their full share of the 

 sun ; and, where it suiis, let the middle of the tree be free 



§ Insects, such as ants, earwigs, and man7 species of millepedes, with numerous microscopSa 

 creatures, of whic'j I know no name ; hut all of wbicb obstruct tbe healing of t^e woundSj by tbeb 

 constant eating andrri:tting the tender bark. 



