Chap. VII. of Gardenin^^. 



all the Branches, that which is the flrongeft and moft^eix^a 

 with the Foot of the Tree^ that is to fay, which fali^ moft 

 perpendicularly upon it^ and cut off all the others without 

 referve. 



If you find yourfelf puzzled in the Choice of this Branchy 

 and that there is never a one very upright upon the Tree^ 

 you may let two of them ftand to the Year following, and 

 then cut off the leaft. It fometimes happens, that you are 

 obliged to leave three Branches upon a Tree, when the mid- 

 dle Shoot, which Hiouid be left as moft upright with the 

 Stem^ is found to be the weakeft of all, and oftentimes to 

 lean of one Side a little. You then lay a Stick acrofs thefe 

 Branches, to confine and keep the middle one in its Place 

 and peel off the Bark about two Inches broad all round 

 them, at the Place where they flioot from the Stock or Bole 5 

 this flops the Sap, which by this means is conveyed only to 

 the middle Branch. The two other Branches fliortly die a- 

 way ; and when the middle one is able to fuftain itfelf, you 

 cut them off entirely: So that of the three Branches' that 

 were left at firft, there remains only one, which fhould be 

 very upright. 



The Reafon why you fhould leave no more than one 

 Branch to a Tree, is, that it flioots the better, becomes lar- 

 ger and handfomer, and grows thefafter : This Branch ha- 

 ving all the Nourifhment and Sap to itfelf, whereas when 

 four or five Branches are left upon the fame Tree, the Nou- 

 rifliment is divided into fo many Parts, that the Shoots are 

 weaker, and lefs vigorous. I have ordered, in this Manner, 

 fome topped Elms, that in five or fix Years time have form'd 

 a handlbme ftraitHead, of 15 or 20 Foot high. 



When you plant Trees without cutting off their Head ' 

 as thofe that are in their Clod, you leave only a little Bunch 

 at Top, that the Tree having few Branches to fupply, the 

 Root may the better nourifh its Head. 



The beft way toraife and keep Walks of Trees well, is 

 by no means to Ipare two Things : The firft, is to fet Poles 

 to each Tree, and bind them together with Oziers, which 

 helps . to fecure them againft the violent Shocks of Wind^ 

 and to carry them up ftrait and tail; without this, the 



Z Trees 



