SECT. XII. 



OF PRUNING. 



ftrong) left perpendicular, being cut down to a few 

 eyes : or if the tree is fomewhat old, and has a good 

 root, more well-placed fhoots may be left on, keeping 

 the Jowermoft longer than the upper by two or three 

 eyes,, making the upper ones very fhort. If thefe di- 

 rections are properly obferved, an efpalier (or a wall) 

 will be properly and prefentiy filled with branches. 



The bed time for heading down is the fpring, though 

 when trees are planted early in autumn, it may be 

 then done. All cuts mould be clofe behind an eye 

 When a flrong item is to be cut down at fpring, 

 remember to place the foot againfl it, to keep the 

 root in its place,, and ufe a-fharp knife. 



Heading down is advifed to be deferred till fpring, 

 not only on account of frofts pollibly injuring the top 

 eye of the frefli cut fhoots; but becaufe the head of a 

 tree helps to pufh out roots. The propereft time [to 

 prune the heads of new planted trees, is when new 

 roots. are formed J and then a head disproportion ed to- 

 the roots mould. by. no means be fuffered, r as the new 

 fhoots in fuch .cafe would be too weak to be healthy, 

 or fruitful. For planting efpaliers, Sec. See page 3G« 



5. OF PRUNING STANDARD TREES. 



The principle of pruning Jfandard trees is the fame, 

 whether full, half or dwarf' irandards ; and the ob~ 

 jefitisto form a compact hand' o:ne round and open, 

 headrather fmall than large, equal on all fides, with 

 tolerably ereft wood, capable (as far as the art of the 

 pruner can go) of iupporcing the fruit without much 

 bending. PerfeS fymmetry indeed is not neceiTaiy, 

 but cpnfafion of branches, weak and eroding, crowded 

 and dangling, is to be prevented by pruning; for a 

 proper, (rather free) ufe of the knife, is capable of doing 

 much towards the beauty and fruitfubiefs of ftandard 

 trees. A little pruning of irandards every year, and a 

 general one (rather free] every three or four years, to 

 I . cut 



