198 APPLE TREE. 



time, the limb or trunk becomes hollow, frequently to 

 the roots. Always prune at a fork, and remove the 

 lower branch, that the wound may be on the lower 

 side. Care must be taken not to cut away too many 

 large limbs at a time. All large limbs should be cut 

 first at some distance from the place where they are to 

 be pruned, to prevent the weight from peeling the bark : 

 the bark on the lower side should be cut through to 

 prevent the same accident. In every instance, after 

 sawing off the branch, let the bark and edges of the 

 stump be pared close and smooth with a sharp knife, 

 (a drawing knife will be found convenient,) and immedi- 

 ately apply the composition so as to cover the whole 

 surface of the wound. All dead limbs should be cut off 

 close to the trunk. Such branches as intersect or cross 

 each other, ought to be removed, and all others cleared 

 of suckers to their extremities. Such branches as have 

 received any material injury ought to be removed. 

 Never suffer a sucker to remain near the root ; nor by 

 any means upon the body, which is not intended to be 

 permanent. Those vigorous young shoots, which otlen 

 spring from old arms, near the trunk, and incline to grow 

 up into the head, must be annually extirpated, lest they 

 fill the tree with too much wood. The outer surface 

 only is able to mature fruit properly. Every inward and 

 every underling branch ought therefore to be removed. 

 Young trees if hide bound, should be relieved by cutting 

 the bark with the point of a knife, from the top to the 

 bottom of the stem. 



Canker. This disease occasions the bark of apple 

 trees to grow rough and scabby, and turns the wood af- 

 fected to a rusty brown colour ; and if no remedy be ap-. 

 plied, will in time kill the tree. Mr. Forsyth directs all 

 the diseased parts to be cut out with a sharp instrument. 

 The same kind of compositions used for pruning and en- 

 grafting must then be applied. 



Moss and Scaly bark. Fruit trees suffer much injury 

 from these. They can be readily removed, by rubbing 

 the trees in damp weather with a hoe, or the back of a 

 knife. Good cultivation generally prevents the growth 

 of moss. Whitewashing the stem, not only cleanses the 

 tree of moss, hut destroys many kinds of insects very 

 injurious to fruit trees. 



