SEASON FOR PRUNING. 



53 



raged. It is this that must be guarded against 

 and even must always endeavour to retain 

 a new shoot as near as possible to the origin 

 of the last year wood. The pruning of the 

 shoots in winter as directed in its proper place 

 very much encourages this. It must be ad- 

 mitted that the roots of a tree spread more 

 and increase every year, consequently, the 

 food received the ensuing summer by means 

 of such increase, will require an additional 

 extent of branches in order to be expended 

 in such a way that the tree is not thereby 

 thrown into a luxuriant condition; but such 

 injury is avoided by allowing the tree a 

 greater extent of wood every year, until it 

 has covered its allotted space, consequently 

 there is a proportionate increase of fruit to 

 support, which moderates and regulates 

 the tree in a proper way, so as to keep it in 

 a fruitful state. When the tree has filled its 

 allotted space, if it should then be inclined to 

 shoot too vigorously, a greater quantity of 

 fruit must be allowed, so that the extra por- 

 tion of sap may be therein expended, but 

 this w r ill very rarely be the case, for by the 

 time that the tree has extended so far, its 

 tendency to luxuriancy is generally checked. 



By attending to the proper pruning of the 

 trees in winter, every advantage that is 

 desired is promoted, and by a judicious 

 management in other respects, wood may 

 not only be obtained but preserved in every 



