CHAPTER XXV 



PINCHING BUD-NIPPING 



WHEN the desired shape has been obtained 

 the next thing is to keep it, despite all oppo- 

 sition on the part of the tree, which revolts in its 

 own peculiar fashion ; that is, it strives to restore the 

 natural conformation of its branches. Suppose, for 

 example, that a pear-tree, pruned after the manner 

 of wall-fruit, has grown all out of symmetry and 

 developed one side more than the other. How shall 

 the two halves be restored to correct proportions! 

 How shall the too vigorous part be weakened and the 

 too feeble part strengthened? Several methods of- 

 fer themselves. 



' ' On the vigorous side let us cut back the branches 

 with the pruning shears, leaving only the base of 

 each with a small number of buds ; in other words, 

 let us cut them very short. On the weak side, on 

 the contrary, let us leave the branches intact or cut 

 them very long, thus leaving them the greater part 

 of their buds. What will come of this treatment? 

 Since abundant foliage, the active laboratory of the 

 descending sap and also a kind of pump that sucks 

 up the sap and causes it to ascend from the roots, 

 is the prime cause of vigorous vegetation, the weak 



part, with its numerous buds developed into leafy 



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