3 7 o The Condition. 



refrefh and fupple them, but alfo convey 

 nourifhment to them : But in the cafe of 

 fharp frofts after Ihowcrs of rain, theie fliel. 

 ters and other fences muft needs be of ex- 

 cellent ufe to prevent the almoft total de- 

 duction which is occafioned by the freez- 

 ing of the tender parts of vegetables, when 

 they are full faturate with rain. 



The full proof we have from thefe Ex- 

 periments, of the ferviceablenefs of the leaves 

 in drawing up the fap, and the care we fee 

 nature takes, in furnifhing the twigs with 

 plenty of them, principally near the fruit, 

 may inftruct us on the one hand, not to be 

 too layifh in pruning them off, and to be 

 ever mindful to leave fome on the branch 

 beyond the fruit 5 and on the other hand, to 

 be as careful to cut off all fuperfluous flioots, 

 which we are affured do draw off in wafte 

 great quantity of nourifhment. And might 

 it not be advifeable, among many other ways 

 which are prefcribed, to try whether the 

 too great luxuriancy of a tree or branch 

 could not be much checked by pulling off 

 fome of its leaves I How many experience 

 will befl: teach us, the pulling all off will 

 endanger the killing the branch or tree. 



There is another very confiderable ufe of 

 3 the 



