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Each variety of the apple has its own peculiar form 

 of growth ; and this it will ultimately assume, in a 

 considerable degree, in defiance of the art of the 

 pruner. Something may nevertheless be done to correct 

 whatever is defective. "When the growth of any va- 

 riety is weak and reclining, the principal stem should 

 be trained to a considerable height before it be allowed 

 to produce branches ; and if any of these take hori- 

 zontal or pendent direction, they should be regularly 

 taken off. One principal leading stem should be en- 

 couraged almost to the summit of the tree, to prevent 

 a sudden division into two large boughs, of nearly equal 

 strength ; for the fork which these form is apt to 

 divide and break when the branches are loaded with 

 fmit. All efforts to give the heads of young trees a 

 round and regularly spreading form, whilst in the 

 nursery, will be found injurious to the future stages 

 of their growth. Large branches should rarely or 

 never be amputated. In the garden culture of the 

 apple, where the trees are retained as dwarfs or espa- 

 liers, the more vigorously growing kinds are often 

 rendered unproductive by the excessive, though neces- 

 sary, use of the pruning-knife, Mr. Knight always 

 succeeded in making trees of this kind fruitful by 

 digging them up, and replacing them, with some fresh 

 mould, in the same situation. The too great luxu- 

 riance of growth is checked, and a disposition to bear 

 is in consequence brought on. {Knight on the Apple, 



