The Cultivation of the Pear. 117 



Great errors were conimitted in grafting trees ; some per- 

 sons took oif the whole top of a large tree, and then large 

 quantities of suckers are thrown out below the graft : many 

 of his friends had cut them oif as often as they appeared ; 

 the consequence was that the grafts failed or the trees died. 

 Thus, he said, it would always be ; for if you continue to 

 bleed trees every week they cannot live. 



Mr. Stickney concurred most heartily in all Mr. Walker's 

 views. He said he was now removing large trees with balls 

 of earth ; his intention was to prune last year, and he would 

 ask if it was not better to cut them in some this year. 



Mr. Walker said trees of a moderate size should be let 

 alone ; buds he looked upon as so many little valves, and 

 although there was so many of them that they might draw 

 off the sap too readily, still he thought it best not to destroy 

 them. No roots can be formed on any tree unless there is 

 some growth made ; at least so he thought, — and gentlemen 

 would correct him if in error. The second year he should 

 head in perhaps one half; the trees would then make new 

 and vigorous shoots. 



Mr. Cabot approved of cutting in newly transplanted trees. 

 ^t was true, if the roots were all preserved in taking up, it 

 would not be necessary ; but if not, they should be headed 

 in to keep up the equality between the roots and branches. 



Mr. C, M. Hovey replied at some length, and discussed 

 the action of the sap, the functions of the roots, leaves, &c. 

 He maintained that no tree properly taken up, and its roots 

 preserved, should be pruned in the first year ; but, as he had 

 before remarked, so much carelessness was there in this ope- 

 ration, that his rule would not apply in all cases. The tree 

 was then to be considered an injured one, and to be treated 

 accordingly ; the bruised roots were to be cut smooth, and 

 the branches more or less pruned. Nature always adapted 

 the roots to the wants of the branches; and unless their con- 

 dition was much changed, no mutilation of the latter was 

 necessary. The great error appeared to be that a rapid 

 growth must be made the first year. Cultivators were so 

 impatient that they could not wait for the tree to make its 



