PRUNING AND TRAINING. 131 



so often, that they can be replanted safely without cutting 

 in so severely. 



M. Du Breuil, from whose work we have already drawn, 

 bases the whole theory of pruning fruit trees upon the 

 following six general principles, which, in giving, we con- 

 dense : 



L The vigor of a tree subjected to pruning depends 

 in a great measure on the equal distribution of sap in all 

 its branches. That this equal distribution may take place 



1. Prune the branches of the most vigorous parts very 

 short, and those of the weak parts long. The feeble parts 

 being pruned long, present a great number of buds and a 

 large surface of leaves, which attract the sap, and produce 

 vigorous growth ; while the vigorous parts being pruned 

 short and the surface of leaves diminished, growth in those' 

 parts is also diminished. 



2. Leave a large quantity of fruit on the strong party 

 and remove the whole or the greater part from the feeble. 

 The sap which arrives in the strong part will be appropri- 

 ated by the fruit, and the wood there will make little 

 growth, while tKe feeble parts being deprived of fruit, 

 the sap will be appropriated by the growing parts and 

 they will increase in sizo and strength. 



3. Send the strong parts and keep the weak erect. The 

 more erect the branches are, the greater will be the flow 

 of sap and consequent growth ; hence, the balance may 

 be restored by bending down those disposed to make too 

 much growth. 



4. Remove from the vigorous parts the superfluous 

 shoots as early in the season as possible, and from the 

 feeble parts as late as possible. The fewer the young 

 shoots are in number, the fewer the leaves, and the less the 

 sap is attracted there ; but leaving these standing on the 

 feeble parts, these leaves attract the sap and induce vig- 

 orous growth. 



