FRUIT-TREES. 105 



I come now to the center branch or ftemj 

 this ought to be left 12 or 14 inches long, 

 or longer, with three or four buds * or eyes ' 

 at the upper end that appear plump, and 

 are in a fair way of putting forth fhoots : 

 let all the others that are below be rubbed 

 off y for thofe that are neareft the bottom 

 are moft flat, and when fhoots are produc- 

 ed from them they are weak, and the more 

 fo towards the lower end of the branches ; 

 befides they are in fuch places where fhoots 

 are not wanted for my purpofe, therefore 

 they fhould be taken off j for the quanti- 

 ty of fap, fpent in forming ufelefs branches, 

 will be ufeful if driven to the upper buds, 

 which are defigned to produce fhoots in 

 proper places. Let the Hem be cut an inch 

 at leaft above the uppermoft bud 5 for when 

 amputation is made too near it, it fome- 

 times prevents its fhooting, and if it flioots 

 at all, it is but in a very weak manner : 

 the reafon, I imagine, is, that too great 

 a quantity of watery particles, entering into 

 the fap veffels at the part cut, chill and 

 retard the fap*s motion, or by letting out of 



*Buds or eyes are thofe parts which appear higherthan 

 the bark upon a branch that was made the laft year. 



thefe 



