TERMINAL BUDS. 13 



time before the others, those first reduced in 

 length are checked in their growth, because they 

 have not so many leaves from being shorter. 



In cases of great necessity, you may even cover 

 over the leaves of a strong branch with some 

 light but impervious material, for a week at 

 a time. It should be wo longer, taking care to 

 observe if the foliage becomes injured or not. 

 Nevertheless, I do not recommend this method, 

 which is more practised in France than in 

 England. 



If it be wished to prolong any branch (no matter 

 its vigour), we must concentrate the whole power 

 of the sap into one or two buds by cutting down 

 to them, taking care that these buds are healthy, 

 and, above all, placed exactly as the new extension 

 is desired to be. 



Terminal buds are always more vigorous than (^ ^ 

 lateral buds, because the sap is conducted more 

 directly to them. 



To lengthen a branch, always remember to cut 

 well down to the bud selected for the new shoot, 

 not, however, so near as to weaken it, but near I 

 enough that nothing useless be left beyond, be- 

 cause, during the drying up of that part, the bud 

 is checked, and the object is to advance its growth. J 

 To obtain fruit-buds, on the contrary, every aim \ 

 must be directed to keeping them, for one or two / / 

 years, as the case may require, in a dormant state, j 

 To effect this, you must divert the full current of 



