290 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



prune in February, and we suspect that the custom sprang 

 up at the East from the old country example. It is not safe 

 for us to follow the specific processes of Great Britain or 

 the Continent. OuB own well settled experience is to be our 

 rule of practice. 



There is no better month in the year to prune, than that 

 vnonth in which the tree is making the most wood. It is 

 plain that the sooner a wound heals the better ; and equally 

 plain, that a tree which is growing will heal a wound 

 quicker than an inactive tree. All the matter which goes 

 to form wood, or to form the gran illations by which a cut 

 heals, comes from the downward current of sap, or sap 

 which has been elaborated in the leaf. Of course when the 

 tree has the most leaves, and the leaves are preparing the 

 greatest quantity of proper juice or elaborated sap, that is 

 the time for pruning, because the time for healing. In this 

 climate we have preferred the last of May for spring prun- 

 ing, and the last of August for summer pruning — the exact 

 week varying as the season is forward or backward. 



3. Instead of Pruning at this eaelt period, let Trees 

 BE thoroughly Scraped and Scoured. — A three-sided 

 scraper, such as butchers use to clean their blocks with, or 

 any convenient implement, may be applied to the trunk and 

 large branches with force suflBcient to take oif the dr^', dead 

 bark. Only this is to be removed. Take soft soap and 

 reduce it by urine to the consistence of paint. With a stiff 

 shoe-brush rub the whole trunk and the limbs as far up as 

 is practicable. The bark will grow smooth and glossy; 

 insect eggs will be entirely destroyed ; all moss and fungous 

 vegetation removed, and the bark stimulated and made 

 healthier. This is better than any whitewash, and just 

 as convenient. 



4. Lime is better used as follows : remove the earth from 

 the trunk, and put about half a peck to each tree, iivery 

 spring, spread and dig in the old lime, and put new in its 

 place. Unleached ashes are good to be dug in around a 



