FRUIT-TREES. 9^ 



tv/o thirds of the branches are either cut 

 or fhortened, and, at the fame time, a 

 third part of the wall is uncovered* Had 

 the branches fhortened in the winter been 

 left their full length, fo as to cover the 

 wall, and in April all their buds rubbed 

 off, except fome to produce flioots in pro- 

 per places, then there muft certainly have 

 been more fruit, and fewer branches to be 

 taken out in/ummer; for the quantity of 

 fap, which fupported them, might have 

 fupported as much fruit as would have 

 been equal to them in weight : befides^ I 

 have known by experience, that trees, by 

 this (hort cutting, are not fo apt to bear.* 



At the requeft of a certain gentleman, I 

 fhortened the branches of a peach-tree on 

 one fide, according to the rules laid down 

 by the beft authors -, but the other fide I 

 nailed to the wall, without fhortening one 

 branch, (which is the method I have prac- 

 tifed many years j) the crop of fruit, as 

 well as the number of young branches on 

 that fide of the tree where the fhoots were 

 not ftiortned, was fo greatly preferable to 

 thofe on the other, that the gentleman was 

 thoroughly convinced by this, and other 

 2 in- 



