13 



of the free circulation of air, is arrested by a profusion 

 of laterals, which are to be reserved for the same 

 round of scientific winter pruning. Mr. Harrison 

 has very properly recommended the pinching back 

 superfluous summer laterals to about three leaves ; 

 these will assist in the elaborative process, without 

 shading the leaves of the blossom buds. We would 

 merely advert to another point, and that is the dis- 

 tance at which the leaders should be trained. Mr. 

 H. recommends, we find, nine inches ; we think this 

 little enough ; if ten or eleven, so much the better. 

 It is not the gardener who can cram the most wood 

 within a given space who obtains the most fruit ; we 

 think generally the reverse. However, we say, let no 

 person think of placing them less than nine inches 

 apart. 



All the rest of Mr. Harrison's remarks are so 

 good, and so evidently the results of an observant 

 mind of great experience, that we need say no more 

 on this head. 



Ripeness of Fruit. — Having now passed through 

 the various modes of cultivating the apple, we may 

 offer a few remarks upon the modes of ascertaining 

 the fitness of the fruit for gathering, resemng the 

 consideration of storing to a future section. Note 

 when the fruit begins to drop naturally from the tree, 

 or, which is a better criterion to avoid loss by wind- 

 falling, to part freely from the stem on being moved. 



