ISB 



OF PRUNING. 



SECT. XII. 



that is decayed by cracks, &c. muft be cleared away 

 to the quick, either by rubbing, or the knife, as filth 

 and infects are apt particularly to gather there; wipe 

 the part clean, with fpunge and foap. 



Conhder the foil about an unthrifty tree, and if it is 

 thought bad, improve it by moving away as much of 

 the old as conveniently can be done. The roots may 

 be laid carefully quite bare, and examined, in order to 

 cut off decayed or cankered parts, and to apply imme- 

 diately to them fome fine and good frefb earth, with a 

 little thorough rotten dung in it, and a fprinkling of foot, 

 or wood allies. 



Hog dung, applied frefli, is faid to have a peculiar 

 efficacy in recovering weak trees; and cow clung may 

 reafonably be expected to do good, if the foil is a 

 warm, or hungry one, and if not fo, the hog dung is 

 not fo proper, as it is a cold dreffing. If the foil is a 

 flrong one, a compojl oifozvls, or fieep's dung, lime* with 

 any frefli light earth, one part of each of the former, 

 and three of the latter, mixed with the foil that is taken 

 off, will be a proper manure; to which a little fharp 

 land maybe added. An animal dreffing, as of entrails, or 

 any carrion, or bullock's or hog's blood, applied to the, 

 roots, has been frequently found effectual to make fruit- 

 ful, and to recover decaying trees, and in particular 

 vines. All thefe applications mould be made late in 

 autumn, or early in fpring. 



The conjlitutlon of a tree is fomeiimes naturally 

 larren ; or the foil that the roots have got into may be 

 fo nought and deleterious, that no pains, or perseverance, 

 will avail , any thing; but continuing fruitlefs and 

 fickiy, admonifhes the owner to take it up, and try ano- 

 ther 'plant, rectifying the foil thoroughly, if the evil 

 is thought to arife there. The /mother Jfy does fome- 

 times repeatedly attack the fame tree, which is a fign of 

 inherent weaknefs, for the juices of a fickiy tree are 

 fweeter than thofe of a found one, and fo more liable 

 to fuch attacks. Sometimes a tree of this kind, when 



removed 



