42 

 CHAPTER XII. 



FKUN1NG 



Is universally adopted by nature. In the forest all the branches of 

 the little oaks and pines are near the ground. But as the trees grov- 

 these lower branches die and drop off. A few years later we behold 

 thousands of graceful, well trimmed trunks. Where the oak grows uj? 

 in the open field its method is to prune the inner branches and extend 

 the surface, giving, what fruit growers call, an open head. The 

 grape vine prunes itself. Where its branches are thickest the tendril-, 

 first strangle and then cut off some of the excessive branches. It i- 

 the Divine plan. " I am the true vine and my father is the husband- 

 man. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he cutlet h 

 away; and every branch that beareth fruit he pruneth it that it may 

 bear more fruit." Wise is the man who will follow such teaching. 

 Happy is the man who has a taste for such a work and can take u\i 

 the vocation first taught man when " the Lord God put him into the 

 garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it;" especially where he cai. 

 dress a garden of this golden fruit a relict of Eden that is "plea-- 

 ant to the sight and good for food." 



It may be said "if nature prunes at all let her do it all." Ye* 

 and it may be said, " If nature plants and grows the corn at all why 

 should I take the trouble to plant and cultivate?" But such a ma:. 

 will reap little more than the harvest of his folly and indolence. Nature 

 makes suggestions, but does not propose to do all the work where man'.', 

 interest is especially concerned. Even before thorns and briar.- haii 

 sprung up, it was man's duty, and to his interest to " dress -the garden" 

 so perfectly planted. Again, where nature prunes, knots and dead 

 wood often become the starting points for extensive decay. But where 

 a living bauch is cut off, with a sharp knife, from a vigorous tree the 

 \vound soon heals over, leaving no scar nor injury. 



The writer has practiced on a grove of about 4,000 trees all the 

 methods of pruning, and not pruning, to satisfy himself as to the best 

 method. Nor has has he spared himself the trouble of visiting many 

 of the best groves in the State, watching the operations, of others, 



