PHILOSOPHY OF PRUNING. 261 



better be suspended until the time that the trees have 

 completed their growth by extension, and formed the 

 terminal bud at the ends of their shoots. The date can- 

 not be given, but it is sufficiently indicated by this mark 

 in nature's calendar ; the formation and full development 

 of the terminal bud, and by the copious deposits of woody 

 matter throughout the tree. The annual layer of fibres 

 is then being produced, and the tissues are in the formative 

 stage ; the tree now possesses within its own organism the 

 best of all plasters to cure and cover the wounds made by 

 the saw and knife, now the tree possesses the true vis me- 

 dicatrix naturae in the highest degree. 



A few intelligent nurserymen have learned this very im- 

 portant lesson, and have applied it in the preparation of 

 their trees, for the exposure incident to their removal from 

 the nursery to the orchard. A very few practice it sys- 

 tematically ; I knew one, (alas, for the lamented Beeler, 

 of Indiana), who acted upon the suggestion made to him 

 by observations and experiments in vegetable physi- 

 ology. He left the side branches, though subordi 

 nated by shortening when necessary, in order to give 

 stocky stems to his trees, and then removed them with 

 the knife during the summer before they were to be sold 

 and planted, instead of waiting until they were dug and 

 Bent to the packing house in the fall or spring. The re 

 suit was, that while his stems were stout and stocky, they 

 were also smooth, the wounds neatly healed over with new 

 bark, instead of being open from the fresh cuts and liable 

 to crack or bleed, as they would have done had this prun- 

 ing been deferred until after digging, either in the fall or 

 spring. This may be considered a small matter, but it is 



