292 TBANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



determined the whole tree to production and fructification. I 

 found on compressing a limb of an apricot tree, in my fruit house, 

 against the trellises, the effect produced was to crowd the albur- 

 num, and choke the sap channels, thus inducing a determination 

 to produce fruit. At the same time I interfered with the flow of 

 sap, by extracting the leaf bud from the end of each branch, 

 which materially interfered with the flow of nutritious juices, 

 disturbed the tree's functions, and developed a fruit spur. Thus 

 you may, by preventing a flow of sap, readily convert a bud 

 that was intended to produce a leaf into a flower bud, which is 

 in reality nothing but an abortive leaf. When you have a tree 

 containing a great flow of sap, you will have no fruit, and you 

 cannot prevent this flow by trimming largely, because the roots 

 will still supply sap for a time, as if it were necessary for them 

 to feed the parts cut away, and will then form new wood. With 

 such a tree it would be far better to trim lightly, rub ofl" a num- 

 ber of buds, and bend the branches slightly from their perpen- 

 dicular position, and fruit will ensue. Some persons retard the 

 sap by removing a portion of bark from the undersoil of the limb. 

 This injures the tree, and is by no means the advisable course. 



What I have said respecting trees, applies to nearly all plants, 

 and vegetables. When your peas have reached the second flower, 

 you may stop the circulation by pinching them off, and thus 

 urge them to form branches, and develop pods. Beans may be 

 treated in the same manner. If this is not done at the proper 

 time, you will promote the growth of leaves instead of pods. I 

 have grown squashes to weigh 201 lbs. by preventing the rapid 

 circulation of sap, by bruising the vine beyond the best fruit, 

 which is better than to cut it ofl", as there would then be an 

 entire suppression. If you will tie the stems of a bed of onions 

 in knots, and leave a contiguous bed untied, you will perceive a 

 marked difference in the yield ; twist the tops of beets, carrots 

 and parsnips, slightly, when two-thirds grown, and the roots 

 will be far larger and firmer. When Lima and other beans have 

 reached the third of the length of the pole, unloose them, let 

 them hang down, and you will collect a much earlier and far 

 more productive yield. My cauliflowers this season were im- 

 mense ; many would not go in a half bushel measure, denuded of 

 leaves. It was accomplished by breaking the leaves around 

 them from the time they were the size of a man's fist, until full 

 grown. By thus breaking, the sap that would naturally have 



