PRUNING. 97 



" But in those submitted to pruning, it is different ; the forms 

 imposed on them, such as espalier, pyramid, vase, &c., change 

 more or less the normal direction of the sap, and prevent it from 

 taking the form proper to its species. Thus nearly all the forms 

 given to trees require the development of ramifications more or 

 less numerous, and of greater or less dimensions at the hase of the 

 stem. And, as the sap tends by preference towards the summit 

 of the tree, it happens that, unless great care be taken, the 

 branches at the base become feeble, and finally dry up, and the 

 form intended to be obtained disappears, to be replaced by the 

 natural form, that is a stem or a trunk with a branching head. 

 It is then indispensable, if we wish to preserve the form we im- 

 pose upon trees, to employ certain means, by the aid of which 

 the natural direction of the sap can be changed and directed 

 towards the points where we wish to obtain the most vigorous 

 growth. To do this we must arrest vegetation in the parts to 

 which the sap is carried in too great abundance, and on the con- 

 trary favor the parts that do not receive enough. To accomplish 

 this the following means must be successively employed. 



" 1 . Prune the branches of the most vigorous parts very short , 

 and those of the weak -parts long. We know that the sap is at- 

 tracted by the leaves. The removal of a large number of wood- 

 buds from the vigorous parts, deprives these parts of the leaves 

 which these buds would have produced ; consequently the sap is 

 attracted there in less quantities,, and the growth thereby dimi- 

 nished. The feeble parts being pruned long, present a great num- 

 ber of buds, which produce a large surface of leaves, and these 

 attract the sap and acquire a vigorous growth. This principle 

 holds good in all trees, under whatever form they may be con- 

 ducted. 



" 2. Leave a large quantity of fruit on the strong part, and 

 remove the whole, or greater part, from the feeble. We know 

 already that the fruit has the property of attracting to it the sap 

 from the roots, and of employing it entirely to its own growth. 



lower parts to die out. In other species, similar instances might be quoted, 

 and as a general thing, the proposition is unsound, except in a comparative 

 sense. 



5 



