I 
369 
When, after this treatment, the tree puts forth in the spring 
®nly one strongand luxuriant shoot, one may then reckon that 
it will be crowned with complete success. When there ap¬ 
pear many shoots, it will be proper to allow all those which 
are above the graft to strengthen themselves during the first, 
and sometimes even during the second, year. As the leaves 
contribute considerably to the support of trees, and with 
respect to them, perform the same functions as the lungs do in 
animals, it will not be right to begin pruning them before the 
following spring. By doing it too soon, there would be a risk 
of causing a revolution, which would be dangerous to the ve¬ 
getable economy. 
As nature has assigned bounds, as we have just seen, and 
those too narrow enough to the duration of varieties, there 
exists a point, no doubt, beyond which it would be in vain to 
flatter oneself to prolong their vigour. But, among such as 
are not yet perfectly worn out, it is possible, after the above 
practice, to restore many individual trees, which would other¬ 
wise have been consumed with canker, and have remained 
barren. 
It may be added as a corollary, that it is a better practice to 
graft three or four years after the trees have been planted in 
the orchard, than to do it in the nursery. They suffer less 
from it, are not so subject to canker, and bear more and bettef 
fruit, 
v 
i, 
V/ORCEiTEfi-SHIRE.} 
CHAPTER 
