Nov,] 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



441 



NOVEMBER. 



PRUNING FRUIT-TREES. 



1 he pruning of fruit-trees of all sorts may be begun this 

 month, excepting figs, and peaches, the wood of which is not 

 yet sufficiently ripe. Where there is much pruning to be done, 

 the standard fruit-trees may be first operated upon, as the 

 majority of them will now be sufficiently ripe for that purpose ; 

 and by the time that they are finished, those on the espaliers, 

 and afterwards the wall-trees, may be proceeded with. It is of 

 importance, in extensive gardens, to begin winter-pruning at an 

 early period, that there may be plenty of time to do the whole 

 in a proper manner. In going over standard-trees at this time, 

 if they be old, and much crowded with old spurs, they should 

 be cut out in a regular thinning manner, and all superfluous 

 young wood, that is not wanted to form branches to fill up any 

 vacancy, or to replace any old worn out ones, should be 

 cleared away, an 1 even some of the old branches should be 

 cut out in such a way, as to keep up a succession of young 

 wood in every part of the tree. If this be properly attended 

 to, the trees will remain much longer in a healthy state, than 

 if allowed to grow on without such a provision being made for 

 forming a supply of bearing wood. Trees much debilitated 

 and decayed, should be headed down to within a few inches of 

 the graft or bud; as directed in the spring months ; proper 

 ladders and pruning instruments should be used, so that the 

 operation may be performed without injury to the trees. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING VINES ON THE OPEN WALLS. 



It is a general practice to prune vines on the open walls in 

 spring, but as they are apt to bleed much, if that operation 

 be delayed until the sap has risen, we deem it the safest v/ay to 

 perform it iji autumn as soon as the leaves have fallen, and the 

 wood is sufficiently ripened, or as soon after as convenient. 



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