268 On Improving the Productiveness of Fruit Trees. 



that it had been confined to Pear-trees, and also states, that 

 the ring was generally cut rather wide, and that the branches, 

 though they bore fruit, were essentially injured by the 

 operation, and ultimately perished. This effect unquestion- 

 ably ensued from the misapplication of the remedy, in 

 taking off too great a quantity of the bark, and thus re- 

 ducing the tree or branch, to a state of exhaustion, instead 

 of merely checking, and moderating its vigour. It seems, 

 therefore, to have been only a practical manipulation, known 

 among gardeners, of which the reason and general principle 

 were not understood. This is, moreover, apparent from its 

 having been usually applied to no other than Pear-trees. 

 Perhaps the frequent barrenness of these trees, arising from 

 a superabundance of sap, was the cause why they, in pre- 

 ference to other trees, were subjected to that operation. I 

 have mentioned, that Mr. Williams tried it upon Vines, 

 but though he hints at it, as no improbable idea, that other 

 trees might perhaps be equally benefitted by the process, he 

 was not aware of its efficacy in general. We know, at present, 

 on the authority of experience, that it has answered with Pear- 

 trees, Plum-trees, and Vines ; and combining this with general 

 reasoning, I think, we cannot be wrong in concluding, that 

 it will, in a similar manner, be advantageous to all fruit-trees, 

 whose unproductiveness is judged to be owing to an exube- 

 rance of sap. The unskilful way, in which it has been prac- 

 tised upon Pear-trees, involving frequently the destruction 

 of the tree, rendered the expediency of recurring to that re- 

 medy problematical ; and it seems that no person in this 

 country, before Mr. Williams, reflected upon the means 

 of preventing the injurious consequences, which were apt to 



