Instructions for Pruning, Budding, ^^c. xxvVi 



fiifficient time to heal, before the froiT: fets in ; and in 

 the fpring all the efforts made by tlie motion of the fap, 

 v/ill not be to any unneceHary purpol'c, as now no part 

 of the tree is to be cut off. 



Oclober I have mentioned as the beff time for winter 

 pruning; in doing of which you mulf ohferve to cut 

 behind a wood bud; this you may diflinguilh from the 

 blofTom bud which is Ihorter, rounder, and more fwoln 

 than the wood bud ; for if the fhoot does not termi- 

 nate with a leading bud, it is apt to die down to the next. 

 The length of the fhoots, in a heahhy ifrong tree, fhould 

 be ten inches or more, but in thofe that are weak, not 

 more than fix; yet in this you mull: be guided by the 

 pofition of the leading bud, as it is better to have a fhoot 

 three or four inches longer or fhorter, provided it termi- 

 nates with one of thefe buds; it is abfolutely neccffary 

 for the future welfare of the tree, you fiiould cut out 

 all weak flioots, though many blolTom buds may appear 

 on them. 



In nailing the fhoots to the wall keep the hori/.ontal 

 pofition, as reprefented by fig. i8, placing the branches 

 at fuch diffances as will prevent their being overfhadow- 

 ed with their leaves, as has been direftcd. 



Peach, the molf excellent of thefe are fuch as have 

 their fruit with afirmfiefli; the llvin thin, of a d^^i^ 

 bright red next the fun, and of it yellowifh caft next the 

 wall, and the flefh of a \e1lowirh colour, full of juice. 



Pear-Trees. They generally produce tl>eir bloflbm 

 buds on the extremity of the lafl year's fhoots; {o thev 

 are not to be cut off; this alfo will prevent the evil of 

 filling the tree with too much wood. Pears likewiie 

 produce their fruit upon fluds or fpurs, which are emit- 

 ted from branches three or four years old, fo little more 

 is to be done with them, than in the fummer to train 

 their fhoots, and to difplace fore-nght and luxuriant 

 branches, that the fruit may be well cxpofed to the fun: 

 the feafon for this work is any time after the fruit is 

 gathered until March, but the fooner after the iruit is 

 gathered, the better. 



Plum-Trees \ they not only produce their fruit upon 

 tlie laft year's wood, but alfo upon {\.nAz or Ipiirs of ma- 



C3 ny 



