PRUNING SHEARS, ETC. 
33 
We have no experience in this kind of fowl 
ourselves, but some of our friends in this neigh¬ 
borhood have imported them direct from Spain, 
and esteem them highly, having been quite 
successful in their breeding. They are larger 
than common fowls, are in good shape, and have 
a line noble appearance. They make a capital 
cross on the larger breeds, especially with the 
Malays and Javas, which they scarcely deterio¬ 
rate in size, yet;. greatly improve in form. The 
only objection our friends make to the Spanish 
fowl, is their large comb and wattles, which 
sometimes injure the birds when severely fro¬ 
zen ; but as this is a highly ornamental and dis¬ 
tinguished point with them, they dislike to cut 
it off. It would be an excellent breed for the 
south, as its comb and wattles are in no danger 
of being frozen in that mild climate. 
PRUNING. 
The manner in which farmers usually prune 
their fruit and ornamental trees is so barbarous, 
that they often do them more injury than good. 
Bill Hook.—Fig. 11. 
The sole implement which they generally use 
for this purpose is, the common woodman’s axe— 
a capital tool in its way—but too heavy and 
rough cutting for nice pruning ; for this reason 
it should be discarded entirely, and a wide-set 
and very narrow carpenter’s saw substituted for 
removing the larger limbs; while for the small¬ 
er, and tall shrubbery, the best and most con- 
Pruning Saw and Chisel.—Fig. 12. 
venient implements in use, are a bill hook, fig. 
11, a pruning saw and chisel, fig. 12, lopping, 
sliding, and pole pruning shears, figs. 13, 14, 15, 
and 16. 
Sliding Pruning Shears.—Fig. 13. 
Those who have never seen a skilful pruner 
handle these implements among the trees and 
shrubbery, can have but an indefinite notion of 
the rapidity, smoothness, and even elegance ol 
his workmanship; contrasted with that of the 
person using only the common axe, the differ¬ 
ence is as great as between a rough-hewed, and 
a finely-sawed or smooth-planed plank. Nor is 
Lopping Shears.—Fig. 14, 
the difference less to the tree itself: for when 
properly pruned, the bark soon grows over the 
cut, and makes a smooth, healthy part of the 
trunk or branch. Not so, however, with the 
Sliding Pruning Shears.—Fig. 15. 
rough-cut. Sometimes it never grows over, and 
when it apparently does, it leaves that part of 
the tree hollow or unsound, to its lasting injury 
and that of the fruit. 
These implements can be had now at a mod¬ 
erate price, and when well taken care of, they 
last a long time. We hope that all those who 
cultivate fruit trees and shrubbery, will here¬ 
after procure a good assortment of them, and 
take more pains in their pruning than they have 
hitherto been in the habit of doing. 
Guano on Wheat is now very extensively 
used in the fall, and proves to be the best and 
most profitable manure that has yet been ap¬ 
plied to this important crop. Its use we under • 
stand is greatly on the increase. It may be 
harrowed in with the wheat, or sowed any time 
subsequently. It is most effectual when applied 
directly before a rain. From 200 to 500 lbs. 
per acre may be used according to the condition 
or fertility of the soil. 
