128 A TREATISE OF 



CHAP. XLL 



To prune a full grown Tree, fo as to make 

 it bear good Fruit in the largefl quantity. 



IT fhould firft be confidered what ftate 

 of health the tree is in, whether it be 

 too weak, too ftrong, or in a proper ftate* 

 The fymptoms of weaknefs are, bearing or 

 bloffoming much, and fliooting but little. 

 Thofe of ftrength and a proper ftate may 

 be known by the following direflions, viz, 

 if a tree fhoots much, and bloflbms but 

 little, it is too luxuriant or too ftrong, ad- 

 mit the flioots it makes be healthy and free 

 from canker at their extremities and all 

 other parts. 



When a tree fhoots ftrongly, and bears 

 a plentiful crop of large fruit, it may be 

 judged to be in a proper ftate of health. 

 Let us fuppofe, that one of thefe healthy 

 trees be in fhape like fig. 6, and begin 

 with the management of it in May, after 

 it has been winter-pruned, and made new 

 flioots, then it may be difcovered what 

 quantity of fruit it will bear. If there be 



an 



