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are, the drying out of the wounded parts or points, before the cir: 
culation commences anew, and the escaping of the sap for a time 
after it begins to flow. Consequently, such wounds are very slow 
to heal over, and the exuding sap makes the tree look black and 
unsightly, for some distance beneath those wounded parts. On the 
contrary, if the pruning is delayed till the leaves have obtained 
their full size and power, the drying out and bleeding are prevented, 
and wounds made at that time very quickly heal over; for then, 
nature stands ready to administer from the tree’s vitality the needed 
succor with its fast healing properties. 
My own experience, drawn from close observation, and the light 
shed by excellent writers upon this subject, has led me to adopt the 
practice of pruning only from the middle of June, to the first of 
September, and to trim but little ata time. If a severe cutting 
away is actully needed in one season, I should divide the infliction 
into three or four parts, at intervals of two or three weeks. Besides, 
I am thoroughly convinced, that the knife is used far too freely, and 
nature’s laws are ruthlessly violated, by the thoughtless and inex- 
perienced, who too often cut and maim their choicest fruit trees, 
without mercy or discretion. 
We should rather behold in the noble, and gloriously growing 
fruit tree, an exhibition of its own nature, and reflect that in its 
developments, as in social life, this 
“is nature’s plan, 
And following nature, is the march of man— 
Firm on its fabric,” let your fruit trees rise, 
While songs of plenty giadden earth and skies. 
Proxing Wien TRANSPLANTING.—I come now to the generally 
adopted, but most abusive practice of cutting off the tops of trees 
at the time of transplanting. In condemning this long established 
custom, I know that I necessarily meet the disapproval of many 
very eminent fruit growers, for whose opinions I have the highest 
respect. But, my most careful observation in our dry climate, has 
compelled me, if I would follow the light thereby afforded, to take 
a decided stand against such decapitation, at such atime. Fruit 
trees should be brought into a suitable form, and proportion, by the 
nurseryman, by the necessary pinching and pruning, in suitable 
seasons and times, before they are to be transplanted. Then, cut 
nothing away at the time of removal, but most carefully guard their 
