PRUNING. 239 



must be applied to keep it within bounds. But the 

 tree which is only kept within bounds by annual 

 dismemberment, will, like the willow before spoken 

 of, be, like it, prompted into unnecessary luxuriance 

 unsuitable to the purpose for which the tree is cul- 

 tivated. The main point to be aimed at is, as soon 

 as the tree has nearly covered the space designed for 

 it, to keep it in that moderate state, which, while it 

 possesses health and sufficient vigour to produce a 

 crop of fruit, and yield a supply of young wood 

 necessary for succeeding crops, is all that is requisite. 



By thinning the buds or young shoots early in the 

 spring, excessive growth is repressed, and a qualified 

 expansion of the whole system induced. It is an 

 old saying, " the more you use the knife the more 

 you may." This, however, is spoken of severe winter 

 pruning, which on many trees causes exuberance in 

 the following summer ; but preventing the summer 

 growth by reducing the demand upon the root, has a 

 contrary effect. If every shoot produced by a peach 

 tree, for instance, were suffered to be perfected, a 

 thick irregular mass of brushwood would be the con- 

 sequence ; a corresponding extension of the root 

 takes place at the same time, and which would 

 stimulate still more the growth of the next year, 

 whether this mass of brushwood were pruned off or 

 not. 



To avoid both extremes is good management; 

 encourage moderate growth by allowing a middling 



iy*siTs 

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