MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, kc. i@i 



number of leaves at the lower bud, and cut at them ; for at 

 the footftalk of every one of thefe will be produced a flower 

 bud. The fame will hold good in cutting the fuperfluous 

 fhoots on Standard Pears. You will have in fome forts of 

 Pears, in a favourable feafon, from five to nine Pears in a 

 clufter. This cutting lhould not be later than March, or 

 the beginning of April, on account of the leading Inoot be- 

 ginning to grow \ the next topping, when the leading fhoot 

 grows quick enough to admit of it, lhould be about the mid- 

 dle of June ; and the length of the fhoots lhould be according 

 to their ftrength, having from three eyes, or buds, to fix on 

 a fide. Plate VIII. will better explain the different '.years** 

 growth, &c. than I can -do-by words. Theloweft/, is the, 

 place where we began to cut the top off ; and g r the old de^- 

 cayed flump, with, very little bark left., 



The cankery part beginning to affecT the new bark, I cut" 

 off all the canker at the bottom laft year, and plaftered the 

 place with fome cow-dung mixed with wood-allies and pow- 

 der of burnt bones,, put into as much urine and foapfuds as 

 would make it of the confidence of thick paint ; this I laid- 

 on with a painter's brufh. After it had been applied about 

 three hours, I patted it gently down, with my hand, clofe to 

 the tree. By fo doing, I get rid of all the air bubbles that:- 

 may be under the Compofition, and make it adhere to the 

 tree, preventing it from being wafhed off by heavy rains. 



In the beginning of Augufl we fhorten the foreright fhoots 

 to about four inches long ; by this time the fhoot will have- 

 made its. full growth for the feafon, and will produce fine, 

 ftrong eyes for the following year. 



Such fhoots as grow near the ft em of the tree, if any are,: 

 wanted s fill up the wall, may be tucked-in as directed for* 



Peaches. 



