MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 47 



than a maiden tree that has been planted upwards of twenty 

 years.^ 



It is hoped that the above directions, if properly attended 

 to, M'ill be sufficient to enable any one to bring old decayed 

 trees into a healthy bearing state. 



In large orchards and gardens, it may be necessarv, at 

 first, to head down only every other tree ; cutting some of the 

 branches of the rest, which are in a decayed and cankery state 

 and will bear no fruit. This will be preparing them to throw 

 out new wood and furnish, the tree much sooner with bearing 

 branches. In such a season as the present (1800), when there 

 is a blight and general failure of crop throughout the iangdom, 

 the operation may be performed in summer, in the months of 

 May, June, and July, (May for America) and even so late as 

 August, which would save a season. I would, however, re- 

 commend the performing the operation as early as possible ; 

 for by so doing the wood will be the stong^r. 



When the trees are become hollov/, the like method should 

 be followed as is directed for plums j but by no means cut them 

 down unless the tops are quite decayed ; observing to cut the 

 loose rotten wood clean out of the hollow and other decayed 

 parts, applying the composition. At the same time remember 

 to open the ground, and cut out all the rotten parts that may be 

 found in the lower part of the stem, together with all the de- 

 cayed roots, which, if this be not done, will infallibly in- 

 jure the fresh wood and bark, and prevent a cure from being 

 effected. 



I would recommend heading down all apple trees that are 

 much cankered and have ill-shaped heads ; for by so doing 

 much labour will be saved, and the trees will amply pay the 

 proprietor. 



Never shorten the young branches, except they are very 

 thin, when it will be necessary to do so to fill the trees with 

 young wood ; nor prune any of the young shoots the second 

 year (I mean the year after they are cut), as m.any of the eyes, 

 almost to the end of the shoot, will, if it be strong, become 

 fruit-buds next vear ; and so on every year. 



In the month of May in the first year after the trees have 

 been so cut, it will be necessary to go over them, and rub off, 



* Upon readirig this paragraph, how many American orchards present 

 themselves to my view ! How mianv orchards have I seen, without a single ap- 

 ple, while, with the help of this operation would soon be loaded with fruit ! 

 How soon are trees in that country regarded as worn out, and are, as such, 

 cur down, which trees by the aid of this system would last for twenty or forty 

 ears longer, and would be infinitely preferable to a young orchard, besides 

 i.e advantage which would be derived frcra preventirg the loss of time. 



