OLD FRUIT TREES. 319 



ployed advantageously. The necessity of 

 having recourse to this practice may arise 

 from circumstances similar to the following. 

 I have been credibly informed that in some 

 parts of England young trees never bear so 

 abundantly neither prosper so well in any 

 way as what old ones do, and from this cir- 

 cumstance, old trees are purchased, headed 

 down, and planted instead of young ones. 



When a large cut is made, let it be in a 

 sloping direction, so that the wet may not 

 be permitted to lodge in the wood. When 

 there is reason to fear such injury, let a com- 

 position of soot and train oil be mixed toge- 

 ther stiff, and be laid over the wound, in 

 order to keep out the moisture, which is the 

 chief effect of compositions applied in this 

 manner. Always let a cut be made as smooth 

 as possible, because it will thus heal the 

 sooner. 





