2a6 The Fruit Garden. [May, 



than the reft, and fliould be moftly difplaced, unlefs any 

 Ihall feem neceiTary in particular parts, to fill up a vacancy 

 orfurnifhafuture fupplyof wood ; in which cafes, only fome 

 occafional fhoots of thefe kinds fiiould be left, and all the 

 others of them cleared off quite clofe. 



And at the fame time obferve, that even when good and 

 ^vell-placed fhoots are much too numerous and fuperfluous, 

 arifing in any part of the tree where it is plain they are 

 abfolutly not wanted, or cannot be converted to ufe if left 

 till the winter pruning, fuch fuperfluities, though good in 

 themfelves, as they cannot be, with propriety, trained in, 

 are ufelefs, fo fhould be difplaced ; and by thus clearing 

 the tree early of unneceffary young fhoots, the regular fi- 

 gure is all along preferved, and the fruit will receive all 

 proper nourifliment. 



But a full fufficiency of the beft fide-fhoots that are of a 

 kind and moderate growth, and which are well fituated for 

 laying in, muft be left, and trained in clofe to the wail, in 

 regular order. 



For it is particularly necefTary to leave a^ many of the 

 well-placed fhoots of apricots, peaches, neftarines, and mo- 

 rella cherry-trees, as can be conveniently laid in ; for thefe 

 trees principally produce their fruit upon the one year old 

 fhoots ; that is, the fhoots that are produced this furamer, 

 bear fruit next year. Therefore it is much the bell way to 

 leave at this feafon, a fufficient quantity of the wellfituated 

 and kindly growing fhoots, that there may be enough to 

 choofe from in the winter pruning. 



Likewife obferve, that all thefe fhoots now retained, that 

 when about eight, ten, or twelve in.ches long, muft be nail- 

 ed up clofe>and as regularly as poffible to the wall, and each 

 at full length : they mull not, on any confi deration., be fhort- 

 cned at any time of the fummer, for that will prove of 

 worfe confequence than may be generally thought. 



For were thofe fhoots to be fhortened now, by flopping 

 their fhooting in length, it would caufe them to produce 

 from their fides a number of ufelefs fhoots, one almofl from, 

 each eye ; thefe would certainly weaken, and otherwife 

 hart the principal Ihoots from whence they proceed ; and 

 would alfo occafion fo full a fhade, that it would be im- 

 poflible for the fun and air to have due accefs to the fruit, 

 to promote the growth of it in a regular manner, for al- 

 though a flight ihade of leaves, &c, proves necefTary in; 

 4 promotizig. 



