FRUIT-TREES. 87 



I have before fiiewn what I thouglit ne- 

 ceflary to be done before, and at the time 

 of planting ; and fliail now give fome di- 

 re61"ions for keeping trees in the moft 

 healthful ftate, productive of good fruit 

 in the greateft quantity, and as early after 

 planting as poffible, without injuring them 

 for the future ; to etFe6l which many en- 

 deavour by various ways, and efpecially 

 immoderate pruning, tho* without effeft ; 

 for v/hen the knife is moft made ufe of, 

 there is commonly the leaft fuccefs. Tho' 

 there is an abfclute necelPity of lefTening 

 the number of branches at the time of 

 tranfplanting, or foon after, yet they ought 

 to be leiiened in fuch a manner that thofe 

 left on, and fuch as proceed from them, 

 may extend themfelves in the leaft time, fo 

 as to fill the fpace of wall affigned them ; 

 and that all the trees planted may, one 

 with another, cover the whole wall, with- 

 out having their branches too near each 

 other, but that each may receive equal ad- 

 vantages from the fun, air, and dews, the 

 ftronger being confined in fuch a pofition, 

 that young ones may iffue, and be obtain- 

 ed from them when wanted, 



G 4 But 



