PACKING, PRUNING, PROTECTION, ETC. 33 



the contrary, if Ave wish to obtain fruit branches, we prur/e long, 

 because the most slender or feeble shoots are the most disposed to 

 fruit. 



" Another application of this principle is, to prune short for a year 

 or two such trees, or parts, as have become enfeebled by over-bear- 

 ing. (This principle deserves especial attention, as its application is 

 of great importance.) 



" III. The sap tending always to the extremities of the shoots, causes 

 the terminal hud to push with greater vigor than the laterals. Accord- 

 ing to this principle, when we wish a prolongment of a stem or branch, 

 we should prune to a vigorous wood-bud, and leave no production 

 that can interfere with the action of the sap on it. 



" IV. IVie more the sap is obstructed hi its circidation. the more 

 likely it will be to produce fruit-buds. This principle is founded on a 

 fact to wliich we have already had occasion to refer — viz., that the 

 sap circulating slowly, is sul3Jected to a more complete elaboration 

 in the tissues of the tree, and becomes better adapted to the forma- 

 tion of fruit-buds. 



" This principle can be applied to produce the following result : 

 When we wish to produce fruit-buds on a branch, we prevent a 

 free circulation of the sap by bending the branches, or by makinir 

 annular or circular incisions on it; and, on the contrary, when we 

 wish to change a fruit branch into a wood branch, we give it a ver- 

 tical position, or prune it to two or three buds, on which we con- 

 centrate the action of the sap, and thus induce their vigorous devel- 

 opment. 



" y. The leaves serve to prepare the sap absorbed by the roots for 

 the nom'ishment of the tree, and aid the formation of buds on the 

 shoots. All trees, therefore, dejJi^ived of their leaves are liable to 

 'perish. This principle shows how dangerous it is to remove a large 

 quantity of leaves from trees, under the pretext of aiding the growth, 

 or ripening of fruits, for the leaves are the nourishing organs, and 

 the trees deprived of them cannot continue to grow, neither can the 

 fruit ; and the branches so stripped will have feeble, ill-formed 

 buds, which will, the following year, produce a weak and sickly 

 growth. 



" VI. Where the buds of any shoot or branch do not develope before 

 the age of two years, they can only be forced into activity by a very 

 close pruning, and, in some cases, as the peach, this, even, will often 

 ^ail. This last principle shows the importance of pruning the main 

 branches of espaliers particularly, so as to ensure the development 

 of the buds of their successive sections, and to preserve well the 

 side shoots thus produced, for, without this, the interior of the tree 

 will become naked and unproductive, and a remedy will be very 

 difficult. 



" If these principles and practices of pruning be carefully studied 

 2* 



