Od.] T H E F R u I T Garden. 463 



tioned is to be obferved at all times in the winter pru- 

 ning. 



Note, obferve that where any of the fhoots which are 

 left to bear, have produced any fmali fhoots from their 

 fides, they mul^ be cut off; cut them clofe to the prin- 

 cipal flioot, for thefe would neither produce good fi-uit 

 nor good wood. 



Another thing is proper to be obferved in pruning 

 thefe trees, and that is, in fnortening the flioots, to 

 mind, if poffible., to cut them off at a leaf or wood-bad ; 

 dilHnguiiliable from the bloffom-buds by being long and 

 flat, the others being round and fwelling; or otherwife 

 prune to a twin blofTom-bud, meaning where two blof- 

 fom-buds arife at the fame eye, having a wood-bud be- 

 tween theni ; either of which rules being neceifary to be 

 obferved in fhortening, .in order that each may produce 

 a leading (hcot next fummer, forming a leader to the-, 

 main fooots: for where there is a fair leading fiioot pro- 

 duced at or near the extremity of a bearing (hoot or 

 branch, fuch a branch feldom fails to yield fair and well 

 tailed fruif, 



Jt will a:fo be proper to remark one thing more in 

 pruning thefe trees, particularly the apricot. In this 

 tree we of^en fee on the two-year old branches feme fhort 

 fhoots, or natural fpurs, about an inch or two in length ; 

 and on each of the faid fpurs, there are frequently to be 

 feen feveral bloffom-buds. Now fome people cut thefe 

 fpurs entirely off; but I declare againft thatpradice, for 

 fome of thefe fkort natural fpurs will produce handfome 

 fruit, both in apricots, peaches, and nedlarines. 



But, on the other hand, it will be proper to leave only 

 fuch of thefe fpurs as are well placed, and promife by 

 the bloffom-buds to bear fruit; and fuch as are naked,' 

 and alfo fuch as advance confiderably in a foreright di- 

 re<5tion, fhould be removed. 



For fome more general particulars in pruning thefe 

 fort of trees, fee the work of January and February. 



When you have iiniflied pruning any one of the above, 

 trees, let that be immediately nailed to the wall in a 

 proper m.anner, before you begin to prune another; for 

 " it is much the bell method to nail every tree according as 

 you advance in the pruning. 



But fome dired to leave thefe trees unnailed till the 



beginning of March; but this pradlice I would be far 



fr.om recommending, for it not only looks ill to fee the 



X. 4.. fhoots 



