Of PRUNING. 



SECT. XIK 



the wood is too fhrong or awkwardly placed for the 

 knife. When a tree gets to the extent of its bounds, 

 it is to befhorteneddown to a well-placed young {hoot, 

 which may ferve tor a leader; which leader fhould be- 

 already provided by a provident {election in the 

 fummer. 



Where wood is wanted to fill a vacant place, a fhoot- 

 may be accordingly fhortened; but otherwise there inuft 

 be no fhortening, except down to a fingle eve, with a 

 view (as was faidj to forming fruit fpurs, where the 

 tree is thin of them. And when ivwd is de-fired in 

 any particular part, where there is no fhoot to cut 

 down for ~the purpofe, a notch etofswife, . (fomewh-i 

 long), will generally produce k, and the more cer- 

 tainly, ii made juft above a joint, or knot. Such 

 notching of pear trees does no harm, but rather good : 

 as many choofe to do it freely, in order to check their 

 too great aptnefs to luxuriancy. 



The thinning of the fruit on pear trees is frequently 

 neceffary. They put forth numerous bloffioms, and 

 many of them fall, and even the fruit will do fo when 

 it is fet ; but as foon as it is promifmg (by the nealthy 

 /tuning appearance of the tkiri) that the fruit will hang 5 

 thinning to one pear on a fpur, will improve the fruit 

 left, and help the 'tree : this work do with a fmali fliarp 

 pointed knife. 



To 6tieck" the luxuriant: growtfe of pear trees, many 

 fchemes have been tried ; but the belt is here and there 

 to ftrip pieces of bark ofT, behind the ftem, and fome 

 of the principal branches, half round, or rather make 

 ic many wide notches, not going to the pith, 



# % x * 



• Apples arc f&ffieiitnes ^Mnted againft walls, &c. 



What has been faid of pruning and managing pear: 

 is applicable to them; the branches, however,, may be 

 laid in fome what clofer; the they will net-require, fo- 

 much room; yet thev ought to have from twenty-five 

 9 feet 



