May.] The Fruit Garden. 2^29 



ftrength, and allowing the bearing fhoots or branches to be. 

 of three different fizes; that is, the ftrong, middling, and 

 weakly; the number of fruit to be left upon each of thefe 

 branches are: upon the flronger Ihoots and branches three 

 or four of the faireft and beft placed fruit; upon the mid- 

 dling ihoots no more than two or three, and only one or 

 two upon the weaker branches. 



Remember, that if there be few or many upon the trees, 

 to leave no two or more of thefe fizes nearer together than. 

 wlthin three, four, five, or fix inches according to their 

 refpedtive fizes. 



Where the above dillances, and the quantity of fruit men- 

 tioned to be left upon the different branches, are nearly ob- 

 ferved in thinning, they will bring each kind to due perfec- 

 tion. A t the fame time, the trees will Ihoot freely, and pro- 

 duce a fufficient quantity of good wood to bear fruit nexryear. 



This fiiould be the method of thinning the common fizes 

 of thefe kinds of fruit; but the fmall kinds may be left 

 clofer, and a greater number of each kind may be left upon- 

 the different branches. For inftance, the early mafcuime 

 apricots, the nutmeg peaches, and early nutmeg nedarines, 

 aretheearlieli, and by far the fmalleft of their kinds. There 

 may be left upon each of the ftrong Ihoots, about four or 

 five of thefe fruit; and on a middle fized fhoot three ; and 

 fo in proportion on the weaker fhoots. 



The young fruLt that are thinned off, are excellent for 

 tarts, &c. particularly the apricots. 



Dejiroying Snails. 



Snails will often make great havock among the choice 

 kinds of wall-fruit, where they are not interrupted : they 

 particularly frequent the apricots, nedlarines, and peach- 

 trees, and will do mifchief to thefe kinds of fruit, if not 

 prevented. 



Thefe trees fhould be often looked over early in a morn- 

 ing, and in an evening, and after fhowers of rain, at which 

 times thefe creeping vermin come forth from their holes, to 

 feed upon the fruit, and may then be readily taken and de- 

 ftroyed. 



Cleaning the Fruit-tree Borders. 



The borders where wall and efpalier-trees grow, fhould 

 be kept remarkably clear from weeds ; for thefe not only 

 appear difagreeable and exhaull the nourifliment, but they 

 would promote fnails, fiugs, and fach like creeping infedts 

 to the detriment of the fruit. Therefore, 



