164 Pruning Fruit Trees. 



are all cut off under the tree, and the ends, as soon as pos- 

 sible, dipped in wax or something adhesive. 



Very respectfully your obedient servant, 



JOSIAH LOVETT, 2d. 



Beverly, March 5, 1844. 



N. B. — The mode of grafting above described is very 

 similar to what is called whip-grafting by some, though I 

 take much less wood with the bark than I have seen gen- 

 tlemen do who graft by that mode. — J. L. 



Art. II. Hints on the system of Pruning Fruit Trees, as 

 jirac'iced in the London Horticultural Society^ s Garden, 

 by R. Thompson. By R. Cakmichael, Newton, Mass. 



As the raising and cultivation of fruit trees forms one of 

 the principle objects of pursuit, by a great mass of people 

 in this enHghtened country, I should be pleased to offer a 

 few hints (if yon should think them wortli publishing.) on 

 a proper system of pruning, and a few first principles in 

 connection with it, which may prove useful to some of 

 your readers who are not thoroughly acquainted with that 

 important operation ; — important, because on the perform- 

 ance of it, in a great measure, depends the health, vigor 

 and production of fruit. To have a true knowledge of it, 

 it is necessary that the operator should be in some measure 

 acquainted with the laws that govern vegetation and know 

 the functions the diflerent parts have to perform ; for, un- 

 less he does, how can he be sure of the consequences that 

 are to follow ; and it is no ways improbable that that which 

 was intended for a service may turn out an evil ; hence it 

 is obviously necessary that the operator should be ac- 

 quainted with vegetable physiology in order to ensure suc- 

 cess ; quite as necessary as it is for the surgeon to know 

 the functions of the human system in order to perform a 

 successful amputation. 



I shall now endeavor, and at the same time hope to sat- 

 isfy your readers, by pointing out the principle thing that 

 is necessary to be known, namely, the functions of the 

 leaves ; it is essential also to know that every part of a 



