380 



THE PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 



every successive year, a -well-managed young tree of any kind ought to have 

 an increased quantity of foliage ; certainly not by any avoidable means 

 should it be reduced to a condition under which it could only produce a 



decreased quantity. A por- 

 tion should be removed at 

 every winter pruning, but 

 the quantity should be more 

 than compensated by that 

 of the young shoots pro- 

 duced above in the preced- 

 ing aiunmer. By attend- 

 ing to this, and annually 

 shortening the leading 

 shoot, a stout stem, requir- 

 ing no stake for support, 

 will be the result. When 

 the stem has attained the 

 desired height, the forma- 

 tion of the head should be 

 commenced. Three shoots, 

 cut back at least to half 

 their length, wiU afford 

 two shoots each in the fol- 

 lowing season ; and thus 

 six principal branches wiU 

 be originated. Afterwards 

 very little pruning will be 

 required. It will ohieiiy 

 consist in early checking 

 over -luxuriant upstarts, 

 and thinning out cross- 

 branches. 



Fig. LXXIII.— Branch of the 

 Mulberry-tree. 



a, a, a, a, wood-buds ; &, &, 

 blosaom-buds ; c, a bud likely 

 to elongate into a short shoot 

 orsortof spur, beariugusually 

 two fruit; d, ti, buds apt to 

 remain dormant, but may bo 

 stimulated to form a shoot, 

 if necessary, by cutting 

 the parts of the branches on 

 which they are situated immediately above them. 



strong winds. As a standard, it requires 

 removal of cross or ill-placed branches; 

 autumn. 



The MtrLBEKRT-IEEE. 



The tree wiU thrive in 

 any rich deep soil, not too 

 stiff. It should be planted 

 in a situation open to the 

 sun, yet sheltered from 

 but little pruning, merely the 

 and this should be done in 



