The Canadian Hokticultukist. 



71 



spring ; but in all cases, large cuts should be well painted over to keep the 

 wound from cracking. Red paint, mixed without lead, with boiled linseed 

 oil, answers a good purpose ; as also does shellac, thinned with alcohol to 

 the consistency of paint. 



If, however, the trees are sufficiently vigorous, and a check is needed to 

 throw them into bearing, summer pruning may be useful, having also the 

 advantage that wounds made between the middle of June and the middle of 

 July will heal readily, without any pamt. 



Fig. 22. Fig. 23. 



The MANNER of pruning is all important. Symmetry of form should be 

 considered, modified by the natural habits of a tree. A tree, which is 

 inclined to grow upright, should not be compelled to spread. Of all forms, 

 the pyramidal is surely nearest perfection ; for by this mode, few water- 

 sprouts will come, and large cuts need not be made. The idea should 

 rather be to thin out the smaller limbs, than to remove larger ones. 



The preceeding remarks are well illustrated in the accompanying cuts of 

 trees, one of which has been almost ruined by a murderous method of 

 butchery, and the other pruned on the principles laid down. 



It is a very bad practice to cut off branches 

 leaving a stub which cannot heal, and in conse- 

 quence must rot into the heart of the tree as in 

 Fig. 23. 



Cuts should be made close and smooth, and 

 then the bark will readily cover the wound. 



The tools most useful in pruning are a sharp 

 pruning knife, a fine toothed saw, and a pair of 

 tree pruners. This latter instrument is invalu- 

 able. It has great power, and with careful annual 

 pruning should do almost the whole work ; and 

 that, too, with the greatest ease. 



FERTILIZERS. 



At some of the recent Farmers' Institutes, Mr. Raynor, B.S.A., recom- 

 mended as green manures for the orchard, (i) rye, sown in the fall and 



Fig. 24. 



