132 



OF PRUNING. 



SECT. XII. 



become too weak to extend themfelves. and nourifhthe 

 fruit. The pruner, therefore, mull be content to have 

 Tome of the wall, over the middle of the tree, unoccu- 

 pied; or, at leaft, fuffer none but weak, or very mode- 

 rate fhoots, to find a place there. 



The idea of a well -formed tree is fomewhat repre- 

 fented by the ribs of a fpread fan, or the fingers of the 

 hand extended. Regularity is allowed to be fo necef- 

 fary to the beauty of a wall tree, that fome have even 

 drawn Hnes for a guide to train by; but Nature, (ever 

 free and eafy) will not fubmit to fo much formality, 

 and fuch a perfeft difpofition of the branches are not 

 necefTary. A tree may be regular, without being linear, 

 and the proper ufeFul (hoots are not to be facrificed to a 

 fanciful precifion. Though crofjing of branches" is 

 againft rule, yet cafes may happen (as in want of wood or 

 fruit) where even this awkwardnefs may be permitted. 

 The object is fruit, and to obtain this end, form muft 

 fometimes give place. " Barrennefs being the greateft 

 defeft, cro ffing muft not be fcrupled, when barrennefs 

 cannot otherwife be avoided. " A tree may be in fair 

 fymrnetry, and yet badly pruned; and thus fome igno- 

 rantly, and others cunningly, put trees in order with- 

 out a proper feleclion of branches, fo that the beft 

 {hall be cut out, and the worft left, merely becaufe the 

 latter fuits the form better, and gives a favourable ap- 

 pearance to the work as regular. 



All fore-right and back fhoots, and other ufelefs 

 %vood, fhouki be difplaced in time, for they exhauft 

 the ftrengfch of the tree to no purpofe, and occafion a 

 yude appearance. It is a very expeditious method to 

 difplace fuperfluous young fhoots, by pufhing, or 

 breaking them off ; but when they get woody, it is apt 

 to tear the bark, and, in this cafe, the knife muft be 

 tifed: the better way is to dis-hitdby rubbing; yet a 

 young luxuriant tree fhould be fuffered to grow a little 

 wild to fpendthe fap. There is one evil, however, at- 

 tending on d is -budding 3 and rubbing off young for<~ 



rights, 



