SPURRING. 61 



critical period) cannot have such access 

 among them, as is requisite, in order to pro- 

 mote their fertility, and lichen or moss is 

 thereby encouraged, which obstructs the 

 pores of the wood, and prevents the tree from 

 flourishing; and on these accounts for want 

 of due support the bloom or young fruit drops 

 off'. 



Another accident which frequently hap- 

 pens from the spurs being long is, that it 

 often occurs in spring that there are two or 

 three weeks of fine warm weather, which 

 pushes on vegetation and causes the trees to 

 bloom, this is sometimes succeeded by very 

 cold weather for several days, which again 

 gives a sudden check to vegetation, and the 

 blossom being deprived of a considerable 

 degree of support (from the reasons already 

 assigned) is not able to withstand the effects 

 of such sudden changes. Also by the spurs) 

 extending so far from the wall, they are 

 more exposed to the frost and cold winds ' 

 than if they were kept properly pruned as 

 directed by me, and when the spurs are kept 

 short they are much less affected by any 

 change of the weather than what long ones* 

 are. Again, the trees from having the spurs 

 long, are more liable to be attacked by 

 insects, which are with more difficulty de- 

 stroyed, as the composition directed to be 

 used to fruit trees in the winter season in 



