OF APPLES. 115 



When the tree is all prepared, apply the compo- 

 sition immediately, beginning at the top of the 

 tree, and finishing with the powder of wood-ashes 

 and burnt bones, as you descend ; which will save 

 it from being rubbed off during the operation ; 

 and the composition will prevent the sun and air 

 from injuring the naked inner bark. A tree thus 

 prepared will, in the course of three or four years, 

 produce more and finer fruit than a maiden tree 

 that has been planted upwards of twenty years. 



It is hoped that the above directions, if pro- 

 perly attended to, will be sufficient to enable any 

 one to bring old decayed trees into a healthy 

 bearing state. 



In large orchards and gardens, it may be neces- 

 sary, at first, to head down only every other tree ; 

 cutting some of the branches of the rest, which 

 are in a decayed and cankery state, and will bear 

 no fruit. This will be preparing them to throw 

 out new wood, and furnish the tree much sooner 

 with bearing branches. In such a season as the 

 present (1800), when there is a blight and general 

 failure of crop throughout the kingdom, the oper- 

 ation may be performed in Summer, in the months 

 of May, June, and July, and even so late as 

 August, which will save a season. As at this 

 time gentlemen are generally in the country, they 

 could have the pleasure of seeing this performed 

 under their own direction. I would, however, 

 recommend the performing the operation as early 



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