20 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



year, taking care to rub off the fuperftuous and ftrong fore- 

 right {hoots ; by that time they will begin to bear ; then cut 

 out the others that have done bearing : by this method you 

 will keep the trees in a flou riming flare. When the branches 

 are thus managed, they will frequently throw out fmall dugs, 

 or fore right (hoots, about an inch or two long, which will 

 flower next year. They lhould never be fhortened till after 

 the fruit is fet and become about the frze of a large pea ; by 

 that time the leaves will have covered the fruit, and be able 

 to protect it from the inclemency of the weather. You may 

 now fliorten theie moots dole to the fruit, which will leave 

 them from one to two inches long. This method I have 

 practifed with great fuccefs for feveral years. By leaving 

 th'efe ihort foreright flioots, the fruit is protected till it is 

 out of danger of being killed by the froft, or ftunted by the 

 cold North and North-weft winds that happen about the 

 latter end of March and beginning of April. The cold chil- 

 ling rain and mow, which are alfo very injurious to the fruit* 

 will be thrown off by the branches ftanding out from the 

 trees. I by no means like to fee great fpurs ftanding out from 

 the wall ; for they are always fure to be injured by the froft 

 and cold winds. [See Plate II. Fig. 2.] When the fhcots 

 are left naked, I have often feen the plums turn yellow, and 

 drop after they have grown to a confiderable fize, from their' 

 being expofed to the cold frofty winds and rain *. Plums 

 are more tender than any other fort of (tone fruit, owing to 

 the flower cup dropping fooner than that of Peaches, Necta- 

 rines, &c. They are very liable to decay, after cutting off' 

 large limbs or branches, which always brings on the gum 



* In cold and frofty weather, Plums muft be covered in the fame manner as Apricots. 



and 



