MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, 3cc, 73 



bear from three to four years ; by which time they will be 

 pretty much exhaufted by the great quantity of fruit pro- 

 duced from them : they fhould then be cut down to two eyes 

 to produce new wood. 



I always leave three different years' branches on the tree, 

 when the firft ihoot, d 9 is cut off at [See Plate VI. Fig. 2.] 

 You will obferve the next fhoot, f, to be full of fruit- buds, if 

 it has not been fhortened ; when it begins to grow weak, cut 

 it off at g. The next cutting muft be at when the branch 

 h is tired of bearing. Proceed thus all over the tree with 

 care and attention, and you will foon perceive the advantages 

 of this method of pruning above the common mode ; for by 

 it you will be able to keep your trees in a conftant ftate of 

 bearing, which, if left to nature, would only produce a crop 

 of fruit once in two or three years. Always remember, when 

 the fhoot that has done bearing is cut off, to apply the Com- 

 pofition immediately, and to rub off the fhoots where they are 

 too numerous. 



The beft time to prune Apple-trees is in the month of April, 

 or in May, after the Peaches, Nectarines, and Cherries are 

 pruned % 



The fmall fhoots that crofs each other fhould be cut off, 

 leaving the ftrongeft to fill up the tree, and make a fine hand- 

 fome head. The fuckers that fpring from the root fhould 



* Soon after this pruning, about the middle of May, it will be proper to look over the 

 trees, and to pick off any caterpillars that may be on them. 



You will then fee what thoots are infe&ed with the canker, and which might have 

 efcaped your notice at the time of pruning ; and, wherever you obferve the leaft appear- 

 ance of infection, which may be known by the wood appearing of abrownifli colour, the 

 ihoot muft be cut down till you. come to the found white wood. 



I, 



be 



