66 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



and, if left to nature, would run up without throwing out 

 side shoots. The reason for thus shortening the leading shoot 

 is, to make it throw out side shoots ; and if it be done close 

 to a bud, it will frequently cover the cut in one season, leaving 

 only a cicatrix, as at /, in plate 8, which shew every 

 year's growth and cicatrix. When the shoots are very strong, 

 I cut the leading shoot twice in one season ; by this method I 

 get two sets of side shoots in one year, which enable me the 

 sooner to fill the tree. The first cutting is performed any 

 time during the spring, and the second about the middle of 

 June. 



When you prune the trees, and cut the fore-right shoots, 

 which should be done in February or March (not sooner than 

 the middle of March in America), always cut close to an eye 

 or bud, observing where you see the greatest number of leaves 

 at the lower bud, and cut at them ; for at the foot-stalk of every 

 one of these will be produced a flower bud. You will have in 

 some sorts of pears, in a favourable season, from five to nine 

 pears in a cluster. This cutting should not be later than March 

 or the beginning of April, (it may be done till the middle of 

 April in America) on account of the leading shoot beginning 

 to grow ; the next topping, when the leading shoot grows, 

 quick enough to admit of it, should be about the middle of 

 June (latter end of June in America), and the length of the 

 shoots should be according to their strength, having from 

 three eyes, or buds, to six on a side. Plate 8, will better 

 explain the diiferent years' growth, &c. than I can do by 

 words. The lowest is the place where we began to cut the 

 top off ; and the old decayed stump, with very little bark 

 left. 



The cankery part beginning to effect the new baik, I cut 

 off all the canker at the bottom last year, and plastered the 

 place with some cow-dung mixed with wood-ashes and powder 

 of burnt bones, put into as much urine and soap-suds as 

 would make it of the consistence of thick paint ; this I laid on 

 with a painter's brush. After it had been applied about three 

 hours, I patted it gently down, with my hand, close to the 

 tree. By so doing, I get rid of all the air bubbles that may be 

 under the composition, and make it adhere to the tree, pre- 

 venting it from being washed off by heavy rains. 



In the beginning of August (same season in America), 

 we shorten the fore-right shoots to about four inches long ; 

 by this time the shoot will have made its full growth for 

 the season, and will produce fine strong eyes for the follow- 

 ing year. 



