132 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



5. Pinch early the soft extremities of the shoots on the 

 vigorous parts, and as late as possible on the feeble parts, 

 excepting always any shoots which may be too vigorous 

 for their position. By this practice the flow of sap to 

 that point is checked and turned to the growing points 

 that have not been pinched. 



6. In training, lay in the strong shoots on the trellis 

 early and leave the feeble parts loose as long as possible. 

 Laying in the strong shoots obstructs in them the circu- 

 lation, and favors the weak parts wmich are at liberty. 

 Giving also the feeble parts the benefit of the light in 

 training, and confining the strong parts more in the shade, 

 restores a balance. 



II. — The sap acts with greater force and produces more 

 vigorous growth on a branch short pruned than on one 

 long pruned. The whole sap of the branch acting on two 

 buds must produce greater development of wood on them 

 than if divided among fifteen or twenty. Hence, to pro- 

 duce wood branches, we prune short, or if fruit branches 

 we prune long, because slender and feeble shoots are more 

 disposed to fruit. Hence, alsb, trees that are enfeebled by 

 over-bearing should for a year or two be pruned short, 

 until the balance is restored. 



III. — The sap tending alioays to the extremities of the 

 shoots causes the terminal bud to push with greater vigor 

 than the laterals. — When we wish a j)rolongation of a 

 stem, we should prune to a vigorous wood bud, and leave 

 no production that can interfere with the action of the sap 

 on it. 



IV. — The more the sap is obstructed in its circulation, 

 the more likely it will be to produce fruit-buds. Sap, cir- 

 culating slowly, is subjected to a more complete elabora- 

 tion in the tissues of the tree, and becomes better adapted 

 to form fruit buds. If we wish a branch to bear fruit, we 

 can obstruct the circulation of the sap by bending or 



