By Mr, William Greenshields. 293 



superfluity. But the inconvenience will be ultimately sur- 

 mounted, if the foregoing instructions are attended to, and the 

 consequence will be the possession of both healthy and fruit- 

 ful trees. To attempt to bring very old trees into this method 

 of management, would be attended with difficulty, unless they 

 were cut down short, and allowed to make new heads, which 

 I should recommend where their produce can be spared for 

 a time. In a few years fine healthy heads would be formed, 

 which will yield fruit superior to any that could be expected 

 from them, if left in their rude state. But if the trees cannot 

 be spared to be headed down, they may be very much im- 

 proved, by thinning out the spray, and cutting away a few old 

 branches, which will cause them to throw out young shoots, 

 and these, in a short time, will become bearing wood. The 

 remainder of the old branches may then be thinned out with 

 effect. Even if this process is only performed once in two or 

 three years, and the stems and branches well cleared of moss 

 and dead bark, it will be of great service to the trees, be a 

 means of keeping them free from insects, and give them a 

 neat and clean appearance. 



I am, Sir, 

 your obedient humble Servant, 



William Greenshields. 



Englefield, near Reading, 

 January 4th, 1827. 



