MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. u 



Always ufe the Compofition where you cut off old branches ; 

 ohferving to round the edges, and cut out the canker which 

 you find in the old bark where the branch was amputated. 



In Peaches, the canker is of a brown colour ; and, in the 

 bark, it appears in fmall fpecks or dots, as if made with a 

 pen. Ail thefe ihould be cut out clean ; for if any part of 

 the canker remain, it will affect the new wood as it begins to 

 grow. Wherever you fee the gum oozing, you may be cer- 

 tain that the canker is not quite eradicated. — [See the Chapter 

 on the Canker,] 



In the latter end of April it will be neceffary to look over 

 your trees, and rub off what fuperfluous foreright fhoots re- 

 mained after going over them the firft time. Indeed, if you 

 were to examine the trees once every fortnight, it would be 

 fb much the better, as by fo doing they can be kept in per- 

 fect order. I have fo accuffomed myfelf to look over my 

 trees, that I do it as I walk about my ordinary bufmefs, which 

 faves a great deal of time. Care (hould be taken not to let 

 the fhoots get too long before they are tacked to the wall, 

 left they ihould be broken by the wind. I do not, however, 

 approve of nailing the young wood too foon ; for, by fo 

 doing, the heat of the fun will occafion them to grow too faff. 



You may fave fome of the largeft and ftraighteft of the 

 fhoots that are cut off, and run them in * among the fmall 

 branches of the trees to prevent them from being broken by 

 the wind. This will fave a great deal of fummer- nailing : 



* That is, let the middle of 'the branch run in he on the outride of the moot that you 

 wifh to preferve, and the ends tucked under the two adjoining branches. After the fell 

 of the leaf, it will be neceffary to take out thefe loofe branches ; which will give the 

 tfhoots more liberty, and admit the fun and air to ripen the wood before the fpring 

 pruning. 



F 2 I mean 



