PRUNING. 



121 



The season when pruning should be performed, is 

 something dependent upon the kinds, whether they 

 bleed when pruned in early spring or do not. Almost 

 any convenient time will suit for pruning the latter, 

 but we rather prefer March, April, May, June, or 

 autumn after the leaf has fallen. The former, syca- 

 more, maple, birch, &c. ought either to be pruned 

 in autumn, or after the buds are beginning to break 

 in spring, as they bleed and suffer considerable ex- 

 haustion when pruned in the latter part of winter or 

 early spring. From some facts, we consider that 

 pruning in winter, especially in severe weather, gives 

 a check to the vigour of the tree ; others agree with 

 this. 



