124 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



and the terminal bud is often destroyed. Priming must 

 not be undertaken while the branches are frozen, as the 

 wood cuts with great difficulty, and the wounds are torn 

 and commonly heal badly, and the nearest bud generally 

 perishes. If delayed until the shoots begin to start, all 

 the sap from the roots, that has been absorbed by the parts 

 of the tree cut off, is lost. A great many of the expand- 

 ing leaf and flower-buds will be broken off, and finally the 

 sap, in full flow, pours from the wounds and the tree is 

 greatly weakened thereby. 



Pruned at the proper season, the tree throws all its force 

 upon the remaining buds, developing those which would 

 else be dormant. Where, however, a tree is too vigorous 

 to fruit well, a late spring pruning, when the shoots begin 

 to lengthen, will check its vigor and cause the formation 

 of fruit buds. 



The vine, currant, and gooseberry, may be pruned at 

 any time between the suspension of growth and the first 

 flow of sap. In general, it is best to prune plants in the 

 order in which vegetation commences ; first apricots, then 

 peaches, just as their buds begin to swell, plums and 

 cherries, then pears and apples. Stone fruits should be 

 lightly pruned, as they are apt to be injured by the issue 

 of gum from the wounds. 



Summer Pruning, Shoots may be removed at any 

 time, if the tree seems to be throwing its strength in a 

 wrong direction. This is better accomplished by disbud- 

 ding, that is, removing those buds which would produce 

 unnecessary shoots, or pinching the extremities of those 

 shoots which are making too much wood. 



Pinching, or removing the growing point with the fin- 

 ger and thumb, is the most essential operation in the sum- 

 mer management, both of fruit trees and ornamental 

 plants. The tendency of the sap is to the growing points, 

 and especially to those more elevated and exposed to the 

 light. The upper buds, if the tree or plant is near to and 



