SF.CT. XII. 



OF PRUNING. 



153 



righto, that fon*e fruit fpurs are thus loft; for apricots 

 are apt to bear on little fhort fhoot», of from half an 

 inch to an inch, (or more) and there are peaches which 

 do the fame; fo that it is a rule with fome pniners to 

 wait to diftinguifli fpurs fioinjboots, and then toufe the 

 knife; yet ufe it as little as may be in fu miner. 



In regulating a tree, at any time, begin at the bottom 

 and middle, and work the way orderly upward and 

 outward. Never jborten mfiumner, (which would pro- 

 duce frefh (hoots) except a forward (hoot where wood 

 may be wanting; but where the tree is really too thick, 

 cut clean out what may be fparcd. None of the (hoots 

 produced after Midfummer mould be nailed in, except 

 where wood is wanting to rill a naked place : They 

 never bear fruit. 



The proper ufe of nails andjhreds is neceflary to the 

 beauty of the tree, as well as a regular difpofition of 

 the branches ; and in this bufmefs ingenuity will evi- 

 dence itfelf in ncatnefs. 



Nails that are weak and fmall can hardly be ufed,. 

 for they muft be of fufficient ftrength to hold faf; but 

 large nail* do not look well, and hurt the wall more 

 than fmaller. There is, however, a fort made on pur- 

 ppfe for this work, with flat heads, and robuft (hanks, 

 called garden nails, and thefe are generally to be ufed ; 

 there is yet a fmaller fort, with flat heads, that, in many 

 cafes, might do, and they have fome what the advantage 

 inneatnefs. In default of thefe there are lath naiJs,- of 

 two or three fizes, that may be brought into ufe. It is 

 proper to have two fizes, the larger for ftrong and the 

 fmaller for weak (hoots: trees trained to vjooei can 

 hardly have nails too fmall. 



Shreds mould be adapted to the ftrength of the 

 branches, and the diftance of the buds from each other;, 

 fo that with ftrong (hoots* having their buds wide,., 

 fuch broad fhreds may be ufed, that would make weak 

 moots unfightly, and fpoil them by covering the buds ; 

 many a weil cut tree has been made difgufting, 



merely 



