ABOUT FECrrS, FLO"WI.KS AND FARinXG. 235 



how to prepare ground for a nursery. But such writers 

 had their eye upon the soil of England or New England. 

 The still more vicious practice of side trimming and free 

 pruning is followed, which forces the tree to produce a great 

 deal of wood, rather than to ripen well a little. A well- 

 infonned nurseryman ought not to look so much at the 

 length of his trees, as to the quality of their icood. Tlie 

 very beau ideal of a fruit-tree for our climate is one that, 

 while it is hardy enough to grow steadily in cool seasons, is 

 not excitable enough to grow rampantly in warm ones, and 

 which completes its work early in the season, ripens its 

 wood thoroughlv, and goes to rest before there is danger 

 of severe frost. Such trees may be liad, by skillful breed- 

 ing, as easily, as, by breeding, any desirable quality may be 

 developed in cattle or horses. But of this hereafter. 



The subject of pruning will be separately treated ; but 

 it is appropriate here to say, that every consideration should 

 incline the nurseryman to grow his trees with side brush 

 from top to bottom^ and by shortening these, to multiply 

 leaves to the greatest possible extent all over the tree. In 

 every climate we should idolize the leaf — in which are the 

 sources of health and abiding vigor. 



2. The mistakes of the nursery are carried out and de- 

 veloped by the purchaser, in the following respects — ^by bad 

 selection, pernicious cultivation, and by improper pi-uning. 



Fii"st, trees are selected upon a bad principle. Men are 

 very naturally in a hurry to see their orchards in bearing ; 

 precocious trees, therefore, and all means of prematurity 

 are sought. In respect to the pear, it is the popidar, but 

 incorrect, opinion that it takes a man's lifetime to bring 

 them into fruit. Hope deferred, very naturally in such 

 cases, makes the heart sick. But certain talismanic words 

 found in catalogues and fruit manuals restore the courage, 

 and you shall find the pencil mark made upon all pears, 

 described as " of a vigorous growth," " a rampant grower," 

 " comes early into bearing," " bears young," " a great and 



