242 TREATMENT OF THE 



not. But so many injurious effects result 

 from this practice, that it is advisable entire- 

 ly to give it up. (See the Chapter on the pro- 

 per season for pruning fruit trees). After a tree 

 has filled its allotted space, the leading shoot 

 of every main branch must always be pruned 

 back to the lowest shoot upon it. 



When it is found expedient to cut back 

 part of a main branch, let it be done very 

 cautiously. Always prune close up to a 

 good lateral shoot for a supply, and do not 

 prune farther back than three feet from the 

 end of the branch, for when a large portion 

 of a main branch is taken away, the super- 

 abundant sap accumulates at the entrance 

 into the lateral shoots, and the bad effects 

 resulting from it will soon be apparent. 

 There is however a method which I have 

 occasionally practised, when the great part of 

 a main branch has been taken away, it is to 

 open the soil at the distance of three feet 

 from the bole of the tree, and then to sever 

 in two one of the large roots, taking care to 

 cut close up to a lateral one. The conse- 

 quence has been that the tree was thereby 

 kept in a more moderate state, and after- 

 wards flourished as before the operation was 

 performed. But it is much better to avoid 

 the bringing about any necessity for this 

 process. 



In pruning away a large part of any 

 branch in order to make room for new 



