262 PRUNING. 



tion from the root may be diverted into any number 

 of channels that skill may direct, either for the pur- 

 pose of enlarging leaves, shoots, flowers, or fruit. 



Table fruit-bearing herbs, as the melon and cucum- 

 ber, require pruning ; their fruit is borne on the 

 tertiary, much more frequently than on the secondary 

 or primary shoots ; therefore the two latter are 

 stopped at the proper time to cause the production of 

 the former. The manipulation is, however, always 

 governed by the state of the plants ; those raised 

 from old or mrch dried seed, often show fruit on the 

 secondaries ; thereby rendering the production of 

 tertiary branchlets the less necessary. 



