THE SCOTS GARDENER 



When you elect them in the nurserie, hang sticks 

 tied at them figured, and write the same figure on 

 the paper at their name, to distinguish their species; 

 and afterwards, being planted, write them as they 

 stand. 



Begin betimes to prune your fruit-trees ; spare 

 them not while young ; reduce them into a good 

 shape and order while such, so they will not only 

 soon overgrow the wounds, their branches being but 

 small, but also, when they should come to bear fruit, 

 you shall not need to cut so much ; only purge them 

 of superfluities; and this is the way to make trees 

 fruitful as well as pleasant. 



Some ignorants are against pruning, suffering 

 their trees to run and ramble to such a head of con- 

 fusion, as neither bear well nor fair ; for the root 

 is not able to maintain such; farr less fruit too, and 

 therefore is their fruit so small and imperfect. In 

 the meantime the tree spends its strength, and so 

 cannot live long, nor make good service in its time; 

 yea, sometimes the root is not so much as able to 

 bear such monstrous heads. I knew one windy day 

 prostrate above half a score such in a little orchard. 



Others again that are for pruning, usually run on 

 the other extream, by cutting too much and un- 



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