May.] The Fruit Garden. i%n 



promoting the free growth of all kinds of wall-fruit; too 

 much is altogether deftrudive, and contrary to the original 

 intent of having wall-trees. 



With regard, however, to (hortening the young fhoots of 

 thefe trees at this time, it may in feme cafes be pra«^ifed 

 to particular fhoots j for inftance, if your tree be young, 

 and you want to furnifh it with wood, or that there be any 

 vacant fpace in old trees, you may in either cafe, Ihorten 

 one or more of the ilrongeft of the neighbouring Ihoots, 

 contiguous to the place where wood is wanted, ihortening 

 them to three or four eyes, and they will foon after fhoot 

 out again, the fame feafon, perhaps, a fhoot from each 

 remaining eye or bud. 



In the early fummer dreiUng of wall-trees this month, 

 when the firll fhoots do not exceed one, two, or three inches 

 long, mofl of the requifite pruning may be performed, by 

 rubbing oiF the ufelefs fhoots with the finger and thumbs 

 without the ufe of a knife; but when mere advanced, the 

 knife only muft be ufed. 



Apples, i^€. 

 Apple, pear, plum, and cherry-trees, either againfl walla 

 or efpaliers, fhould alfo be looked over fome time towards 

 the end of this month: for thefe trees fhould alio be di- 

 veiled of all ufelefs and ill-growing flioats, and the neceffary 

 regular ones trained in» 



Let all fuch fhoots as are produced fore-right from the 

 front of the branches, be taken off clofe; and all fuch 

 Ihoots as rife in parts of the trees, where not wanted, and 

 fuch as cannot be regularly trained in, fhomld alfo be taken, 

 away ; and the fooner this is done row the better. 



But obferve to leave, in different parts of the trees, fome 

 of the beft placed and moderare growing fide-flioots, but 

 particularly in fuch places where wood is apparently want- 

 ed ; but leave rather more thart what may appear jufl ne- 

 ceflary, and a leading one to each branch r for it is beil 

 to leave enough of good fhoots at this time, to choofe fronj 

 in the winter pruning i and what is not then wanted, can 

 be eafily cut away. 



The fhoots whivih are left, muft alfo, when of due length, 

 be trained in clofe to the wall, orcfpalier; and each (hoot 

 mufl be laid in at its full length, for the reafon before ob- 

 ferved for the apricot and peach-trees, &c. Befides, the ap- 

 ple, pear, plum, and cherry-trees, (hould never be ihorten- 

 M6 ed^ 



