16-0 



FRUITS. 



[chap. 



mounts perpendicularly from the root to the top, flowing through 

 the straight branches, and producing wood instead of fruit. There- 

 fore, when you wish to restore equality between two branches, of 

 which one is more weak than the other, bend the more vigorous 

 one down a little and raise the weak one, which will soon overtake 

 it. Also, when you wish a tree to furnish well at bottom, you must 

 prevent the sap mounting to the head, by inclining the upper 

 branches downwards and pruning them long, and, if necessarv, 

 by means of the annulary incision. 



228. Second : The less the sap has of direct channels; the less 

 it can freely circulate between the bark, the more it will produce 

 of side branches and fruit-buds. Thus it is, perhaps, that the 

 graft and the annulary incision, by stopping the progress of the 

 sap, augment the quantity and improve the quality of the fruit. 

 So, when a tree runs to vv ood, bend the branches downwards : stop 

 the sap, and force it to produce fruit, 



229. Third : The sap flies more strongly into a shortened branch 

 than into a long one, and the more the branch is shortened, with 

 the more force will the sap be drawn to it. Therefore, when one 

 part of a tree becomes less strong than the other, prune it 

 shorter, so that the sap may go there in greater abundance and 

 reinforce the weakened part. This shows, too, that, to have fruit, 

 you should prune long ; and short, to have wood. For instance, 

 if you cut a branch so as to leave but two or three buds, you will have 

 nothing but strong wood ; but cut ofl" in the middle, the extremity 

 will then furnish wood, the middle spurs, and the lower end, fruit- 

 shoots ; so also, prune not at ail, and incline horizontally, and 

 you will have nothing but blossom-bods. From these premises, 

 it may be concluded that, when you have a branch given to bear, 

 instead of pruning it long, as is the practice with most gardeners, 

 it should be pruned short to produce an influx ot sap suflicient 

 to nourish and perfect the fruit ; and that the vigorous wood- 

 shoots, which the French call gourmands, or gluttons, should be 

 pruned long. 



230. Fourth : If you cut a branch completely oflf, the sap goes 

 to the neighbouring branches and shoots. When a branch, there- 

 fore, becomes diseased and is difficult to cure, sacrifice it without 

 hesitation. The neighbouring branches will soon replace it, and, 

 perhaps, in less time than it wou!d have taken in the cure, if that 

 liad been possible. 



