i8o A TREATISE OF 



fboots of the fame fummer's growth ; for 

 thofe of the apricot have, generally fewer 

 bloffom-buds, and are more liable- to be 

 killed in the winter, than thofe of the 

 peach and neftarine. If apricots are not 

 prun'd till the latter end of January, it 

 may then be perceived in the moft part 

 of them whether they will live or diej 

 for though fome living fhoots appear as 

 bright as the others, yet if v/eak they will 

 retain . a much greater mixture of green, 

 and not fo brown as healthy ones ; and 

 fuch as are dead will be black, either all 

 over, or by fpots. When thefe autumn 

 llioots proceed from the ends of others, 

 they fhould ahvays be cut off a little below 

 the joint, which is eafily difcovered by the 

 difference of colour : the parts below are 

 pretty certain to bear, and thofe above 

 generally die, efpecially if they are fliort- 

 ened. But fach autumn flioots as are 

 healthy, and grow from new horizon- 

 tals, if in places where bearers are want- 

 ed, they muff be nailed up to the wall 

 in the fame manner as peaches, without 

 iliortening, for that is apt to kill the fmall^ 

 branches of tb.e apricot. All fuch col- 



laterals 



