^fOREST - TREES. 95 



pruning them to a confiderable height with naked bodies. This 

 impairs the beauty of the plant, as well as the quanti ty and 

 quality of the fruit, by exhaufting the fap that lliould feed it ; 

 for the trunk will be foonefl and befl fed, and, therefore, tiic 

 nearer the branches are to the ground, they will the fooner, and 

 in greater abundance, receive their proper nourilhment. 



Though I have mentioned pruning this tree, yet I muft ad- 

 vife it to be done as fparingly as poflible, and only while the 

 branches are young and tender, as lopping the old wood com- 

 monly occafions a gum and canker, that rfunts and at lafl de- 

 flroys the whole plant : But a little care and attention from the 

 beginning may eafily remedy this, by rubbing oft^ the young 

 buds where improperly placed ; and this practice vdll longer 

 preferve them in ftrength and vigour. 



The Black Cherry, for improving both the fize and flavour of 

 its fruit, Ihould be planted in a frefli, mellow, dry fandy loam, 

 for timber ; it will grow to a large fize in moft drv foils, tho' 

 poor and thin; but in wet ground, or ftilTclay, it will not fuc- 

 eeed to advantage. It is one of our hardieft trees, of quick 

 growth, and, its many good qualities confidered, I have often been 

 amazed that great numbers of them have not been planted uni- 

 verfally in all extenfive deligns. 



The wood is hard, ponderous, and durable ; it pohilies very 

 finooth, and is ufed by the joiner for cabinets, cliairs, and 

 many ufeful purpofes. 



the Black Cherry, being of the. fame genus, I fliall add: 



