MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 253 



againft the fame wall, and enjoying the fame advantages in 

 every refpedt, differ greatly in their health and vigour, the 

 weak ones appearing to be continually blighted, while the 

 others remain in a flourifhing condition. This very great 

 difference, 111 fuch circumftances, can be attributed only to 

 the different confutations of the trees, proceeding from a 

 want of proper nourifhment, or from fome bad qualities in 

 the foil, fome diftem per in the flock, buds, or cions, or from 

 mifmanagement in the pruning, &c. all of which are pro- 

 ductive of diftempers in trees, of which they are with diffi- 

 culty cured. 



If the fault be in the foil, it muff be dug out, and frefh 

 mould put in its place ; or the trees muff be taken up, and 

 others better adapted to the foil planted in their room. It 

 will be found abfolutely neceffary always to endeavour to fuit 

 the particular forts of fruits to the nature of the foil ; for it is 

 in vain to expect all forts of fruit to be good in the fame foil. 



If the weaknefs of the tree proceed from an inbred dif- 

 temper it will be advifable to remove it at once, and, after 

 renewing the earth, to plant another in its place. 



But if the weaknefs has been brought on by ill management 

 in the pruning, which is frequently the cafe, I would advife 

 the method of pruning and training which is laid down in 

 this treatife to be adopted without lofs of time. 



How common is it to fee the young luxuriant branches 

 trained up to their full length every year, and fo carried to 

 the top of the wall in a very fhort time I by which the fruit- 

 bearing branches are robbed of a great part of their nouriih- 

 rnent, which weakens them fo much that they have not 

 ftrength to produce fruit ; but the bloffoms fall off, and not 

 unfrequently the branches decay, fometimes even their whole 



lengthy 



