NAILING. 81 



and that part of the iron which presses upon 

 it. When the branch swells and increases 

 in size the nuts must be loosened so as to 

 allow a little more space. 



Instead of securing the strong branches 

 agreeably to the method directed, I have 

 observed it to be done in the following 

 manner. Strong irons with a hook' at the 

 top were driven into the wall, so far that 

 the hook brought the branch to its proper 

 place, at which it would keep it afterwards. 

 But this practice is very objectionable, be- 

 cause when the iron hook is allowed to 

 remain for two or three years before it is 

 removed, the branch in swelling frequently 

 grows over a part of the iron, w;hich always 

 causes the tree to canker in that place; and 

 sometimes so much as to destroy that part 

 of the branch above it. This might be 

 avoided by drawing the iron a little out at 

 the winter nailing of the trees and then 

 again at midsummer, but this is very trou- 

 blesome and is not near so good a mode of 

 securing the strong branches as that recom- 

 mended above. 



Every wall tree ought to be loosened from 

 the wall at the winter pruning, and the wall 

 should then be swept clean and coloured if 

 required; the tree also should be anointed 

 with composition if necessary. The re-nail- 

 ing of the trees must be performed as soon as 

 possible after they are pruned, anointed, &c, 



M 



