OF PRUNING. 245 



mode of avoiding it is to take care never to wound 

 such trees at the time when their sap first begins 

 to flow ; after a time, the demand upon the system 

 by the leaves becomes so great that there is no sur- 

 plus, and therefore bleeding does not take place when 

 a wound is inflicted.* 



All these things show how extremely necessary it 

 is to perform the operations of pruning with care and 

 discretion. But, in addition to the general facts 

 already mentioned, there are others of a more special 

 kind that require attention. The first thing to be 

 thought of is the peculiar nature of the plant under 

 operation, and the manner in which its special habits 

 may render a special mode, of pruning necessary. For 

 example, the fruit of the Fig and Walnut is borne by 

 the wood of the same season ; that of the Vine and 

 Filbert by that of the second season ; and Pears, 

 Apples, &c, by wood of some years' growth ; it is 



paste (put on with a brush,) is an admirable application to wounds 

 of stone-fruit trees, and others, which are disposed to bleed pro- 

 fusely. It is readily applied, adheres closely, excludes the air com- 

 pletely, and is less offensive to the eye than large plasters of clay, 

 composition, Ac. A. 3. D.] 



* " The Vine often bleeds excessively when pruned in an impro- 

 per season, or when accidentally wounded ; and, I believe, no mode 

 of stopping the flow of the sap is at present known to gardeners. I 

 therefore mention the following, which I discovered many years ago, 

 and have always practised with success : — If to four parts of scraped 

 cheese be added one part of calcined oyster shells, or other pure cal- 

 careous earth, and this composition be pressed strongly into the 

 pores of the wood, the sap will instantly cease to flow ; so that the 

 largest branch may, of course, be taken off at any season with 

 safety." (Knirfkt in Hort. Trans., i. 108.) 



