C >s> 3 
muft nip the’ ends of their principal Boughs, which 
rife too fall, and then extend and faften them to fome 
of the Laths, to preferve them from the Winds, and 
to give them their firft Shape. 
Some prune Trees- ail Winter long, but it is gene- 
rally beft to flay till the hard Frofts be over, and not 
to begin till the end of February , in the Wane, and 
fo from that time till March endeth, efpecially for 
weak and tender Trees, as Apricocks and Peaches, 
which are fubjett to the Frofts very much. 
Trees that are large, and ftand in the open Air, 
may be pruned and cleared of their Wood, until Jnril 
endefrh ; but if you cut great Boughs from them, cut 
them clofe to the Body of the Tree, then cap and 
cover them prefently, for if you let it remain unco- 
ver’d and open to the Air, it rots, and caufes hollow- 
nefs in the Body of the Stem, which in a fhort time 
reaches the Heart of the Trees, and kills them. 
The fame Care ought to be taken in cutting off 
the Branches, that they are cut all very fmooth, and- 
near the Stem ; and if they be great, to cover them 
with Mud or Clay, wrought with Hay or Mofs, ro 
keep them from the fcorching heat of the Sun, which 
hinders the Sap from coming to the Cut •, and for 
this ufe Chiflels are moft commodious, and better 
than a Bill or Saw ; the greater Trees, thus clear’d,, 
bring forth great ftore of falfe Sprouts, which take 
off with great Care. 
To plafh young Trees planted againft a \Val1, after 
the ufelefs Branches are taken away, and thofe you 
cannot bring whole to the Wall, you muft begin with 
the Mafter-bough, that muft form the Body of the 
Tree ; this you muft place ftrait upwards, which muft 
be left fhorter or longer at the top, according to the 
Strength of it, and of the Tree ; after which, .place 
in order all the reft of the Branches on cither iide, 
and let fome be laid within half a foot of the Ground, 
to cover the lower part of the Wall. In plafhing 
thefe, you muft guide them all like the Fingers of 
