MAR.] PRUNING, &C. 215 



This heading down may be practised on any kind 

 of fruit-tree, with equal propriety ; but in the treat- 

 ment of stone-fruits, most care is necessary, with re- 

 gard to making clean wounds, and in excluding air 

 and moisture from them afterwards. Likewise cut- 

 ting, if possible, in the heading down of peaches, 

 &c. just above shoots or buds of some promise, that 

 mil spring. 



Orchard, or other standard-trees that are very 

 much stinted, and produce bad crops on account of 

 ill-treatment, ungenial soil, or the like, may be head- 

 ed down, as above directed for wall-trees, if any 

 other mode of treatment be deemed insufficient for 

 their recovery ; at the same time improving the soil 

 about them, as noticed below. 



Some endeavour to recover stinted trees by other 

 means, such as ripping the bark of the branches or 

 stem longitudinally, in different places, through to 

 the wood ; paring off a slice of the bark, &c. But 

 certainly there is no method equal to that of head- 

 ing, or partially heading them down, and then dres- 

 sing their roots, as now to be directed. 



Of dressing and pruning the roots of stinted Fruit- 



Trees. 



Besides the above operation of heading down 

 stinted trees, for their recovery, it is necessary at 

 the same time to be at some trouble with their 

 roots, and to improve or renovate the soil for their 

 encouragement afterwards. The ground should there- 

 fore be opened ; their roots should be examined, and 

 if necessary, should be pruned of all parts diseased 



