FRUIT-TREES. 185- 



will die after they are a quarter grown, 

 which looked thriving before. 



When there is a large quantity of fruit 

 fet, there is generally a great part of them. 

 in cluftersi it is therefore necefTary to 

 take fome off when they are as large as 

 horfe-beans, but always leave fuch as are 

 covered with leaves, or rather thofe grow- 

 ing at the fame joint, where there is either 

 a fhoot, or fome leaves, for they make 

 better- fruit than others. 



Fruits are thin'd the befl either with a 

 very narrow-pointed penknife or fciflars, 

 for by nipping them off with the thumb 

 and fore-finger, thofe defigned to be left 

 on are often difplaced, as alfo the young 

 branches and leaves. 



Tho' I advife \o thin fruit at different 

 times, yet it fhould not be done later than 

 the month of May ; for if they are fuffered 

 to grow pretty large they rob one another, 

 and none fhould be left on fo near together 

 as to touch before they be full grown, for 

 they are apt to throw each other off, or 

 at Icaft'to fpoil their fliapes. Befides, they 

 never come to the fize they Vv^ould other- 

 wife do, and large*^ fruit when ripe is al- 

 ways 



