24O THE FRUIT GARDEN. [MAY. 



leading one, should be displaced. If any branch, 

 however, have accidentally lost its leader, the best- 

 looking wood-bud, next to it, is of course to be 

 retained, in order to supply its place. 



What has here been said, will equally apply to 

 trees trained against espaliers, pales, or the like; and 

 for the final thinning out of the shoots thus directed 

 to be partially thinned, in order to save trouble, as 

 observed above, dressing them to the wall, &c. see 

 June and July. 



Of thinning; Stone-Fruits. 



Thinning the over-abundantly set fruit on apri- 

 cot, nectarine, peach, and plum-trees, is a necessary 

 duty ; as many of these, in good seasons, set more 

 than they can nourish or bring near to perfection. 

 This thinning, however, must be cautiously per- 

 formed, and by degrees. If the trees have set their 

 fruit very thick in particular parts only, such parts 

 should be moderately thinned out now, and the other 

 parts not yet. But if the fruit be very thickly set 

 all over the tree, let it be generally thinned off to 

 half its extent at this time ; referring the final thin- 

 ning till the stoning be over ; that is, till the shells 

 be quite hard, and the kernel be formed. For most 

 trees, especially those anywise unhealthy, drop many 

 of their fruit in the time of stoning ; so that the 

 thinning had better be performed at two or three* 

 different times; always observing to reserve the full- 

 est, brownish, and best formed fruit. For further 

 directions respecting the thinning of these, and of 

 other fruits, see June and July. 



