THINNING LEAVES. 



101 



it, and such fruit will not come to a proper 

 state of perfection, but will be small and in- 

 sipid. Therefore to take away the leaves in 

 an indiscriminate manner at an early stage 

 of their growth, would effect a great stag- 

 nation in the tree, and be injurious both to 

 the wood and fruit, and the tree would be 

 as unproductive the next year as in the case 

 before cited. But by attending to the fol- 

 lowing instructions such a disappointment 

 will be avoided, and on the other hand, the 

 tree will be greatly benefitted. 



In taking off the leaves in order to effect 

 the ripening of the wood, I commence it as 

 soon as I have gathered the fruit, (and occa- 

 sionally if the season be late, before this is 

 entirely done) I consider that by that time, 

 the leaves have performed the greater part 

 of their office to the wood, which has gene- 

 rally done growing in length and is only then 

 employed in acquiring maturity, and by cut- 

 ting away a part of the leaves it greatly 

 promotes that, by admitting a greater por- 

 tion of sun and air to it. I thin away the 

 leaves at two different times, the first time 

 as already directed, and the second about a 

 fortnight afterwards. At the first dressing 

 I cut about half the leaves, but not entirely 

 away, only about half of each leaf so cut; 

 by this means a suitable portion of light and 

 air is admitted, and those buds situate at the 

 base of the leaves which are cut, are not en- 



