98 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



The necessary result of this is, what we are about to point oui, 

 viz., that all the sap which arrives in the strong parts, will be ab- 

 sorbed by the fruits, and the wood there, in consequence, will 

 make but little growth, while on the feeble part, deprived of 

 fruits, the sap will all be appropriated by the growing parts, and 

 they will increase in size and strength. 



" 3. Bend the strong parts and keep the weak erect. The more 

 erect the branches and stem are, the greater will be the flow of 

 sap to the growing parts ; hence, the feeble parts being erect, 

 attract much more sap than the strong parts inclined, and, con- 

 sequently, make a more vigorous growth, and soon recover their 

 balance. This remedy is more especially applied to espalier 

 trees. 



" 4. Remove from the vigorous parts the superfluous shoots as 

 early in the season as possible, and from the feeble parts as late as 

 possible. The fewer the number of young shoots there are on a 

 branch, the fewer there are of leaves, and consequently the less is 

 the sap attracted there. Hence, in leaving the young shoots on 

 the feeble part, their leaves attract the sap there, and induce a 

 vigorous growth. 



"5. Pinch early the soft extremities of the shoots on the vigorous 

 parts, and as late as possible on the feeble parts, excepting always 

 any shoots which may be too vigorous for their position. By thus 

 pinching early the strong part, the flow of sap to that point is 

 checked, and naturally turns to the growing parts that have not 

 been pinched ; this remedy is applicable to trees in all forms. 



"6. Lay in the strong shoots on the trellis early, and leave the 

 feeble parts loose as long as possible. Laying in the strong parts 

 obstructs the circulation of the sap in them, and consequently 

 favors the weak parts that are loose. This is only applicable to 

 espaliers. 



" 7. In espalier trees, giving the feeble parts the benefit of Ihe 

 light, and confining the strong parts more in the shade, restores a 

 balance, for light is the agent which enables leaves to perform 

 their functions and their action on the roots, and the parts receiv- 

 ing the greatest proportion of it acquire the most vigorous de- 

 velopment. 



