10 OF APRICOTS. 



fine bearing wood for the next year. Those trees 

 must be pruned in March following, shortening 

 the shoots from fifteen to six inches, but according 

 to their strength, always leaving the strongest 

 shoots longest. 



Wherever the knife has been used, the Com- 

 position must be immediately applied. 



After the fall of the leaf, it will be proper to 

 unnail the young shoots, leaving only a few to 

 prevent the tree from being broken by the wind. 

 By this method they will be more exposed to the 

 sun and air, which will ripen and harden the 

 wood much more speedily than if they be left 

 nailed. 



I have a great dislike to Autumnal pruning of 

 fruit trees ; of all kinds of stone-fruit in particu- 

 lar ; for by pruning at that season you seldom fail 

 to bring on the canker ; and no fruit trees are 

 more liable to this disease than the Apricot. The 

 reason is obvious ; the great acidity in these trees, 

 the exposure of the wounds, and the dormant state 

 of the sap, predispose to mortification ; whereas, 

 in Spring, when the sap is beginning to flow, and 

 will follow the knife, the lips will quickly grow. 

 If the branches are small, a fresh bark and fresh 

 wood will in one season completely cover the 

 wound ; but if large, a time proportionate to their 

 size will be occupied; this process, however, is 

 manifestly much accelerated by the application of 



