208 



and the sap acting on these with great force causes their 

 development. 



Hoio far to cut hack. — It is obvious that this must de- 

 pend on the character of the subject. In yearling plants, 

 both of the pear and apple, there is presented a great 

 difference in different varieties. Some invariably pro- 

 duce lateral branches the lirst^ season. The buds are &o 

 perfectly developed, that when the second gi-owth takes 

 place in midsummer, they break and form branches, in 

 some cases as much as a foot long, and in others only a 

 few inches. Then among the varieties which do not thus 

 produce side branches in the second growth, there is a 

 great difference in the plumpness and prominence of the 

 buds. In some they are larger, and stand out boldly 

 from the wood on the whole length of the stem, appa- 

 rently ready to push under the least excitement. In 

 others they are small, lie flat to the wood, and have 

 every appearance of being difficult to excite into growth, 

 and especially those towards the base. It should always 

 be borne in mind that it is better to cut too low than not 

 loio enough. The difficulty of cutting too low is, that the 

 shoots produced are nearly all of equal length, and a 

 certain number of them require to be checked to give 

 each one its proper dimensions. The difficulty of not 

 cutting low enough is, that where we should have 

 branches at the base we have none, or, if any, they are 

 smaller, instead of larger, than those above them. The 

 remedy in this case is more difficult than the other. The 

 vigorous shoots at the summit must be checked, and 

 even the leading shoot, in order to throw back the sap 

 into the lower parts to act upon the buds there. The 

 error which produces such a difficulty, is very common, 

 as we know by experience, amongst persons not familiar 

 with the growth of young trees or the development of 

 tlie buds on their stems. It must be laid down as a 



