) 
'When fields have been neglected for years, r>. 
becomes absolutely necessary to resort to severs 
pruning to re-organize the tree ; for it. stands to 
reason, that constant vegetation irregularly kept 
up, must choke the trees; and prevent ventila¬ 
tion ; while the decaying and useless branches 
would still spring, and draw sustenance from 
the good and regular. And as the tree conti¬ 
nues to bear yearly however little, it must be¬ 
come one mass of vegetation and irregularity 
Such being the case, it is impossible that the 
bearing wood can attain perfection ; but be the 
rather stinted in is growth, and become useless 
and unprofitable. 
There can be no specific rr.Ies laid down for 
the guidance of the uninitiated in the art of 
pruning. General rules might be spoken of 
but thev are so liable to be interfered with in 
e j •* ^ <. - 
their application, by constant changes in the cli¬ 
mate and the seasons, as to render their intent 
unavailable. In my opinion, the best mode of 
management is discernible in him, who takes 
advantage of. the appearance of nature, by an 
application of his skill, when that is required 
to assist the tree in nature's operations. 
The tree, as I have before observed, throws 
out lateral branches in the first stage of its growth. 
These are called primaries, arid should they be 
cut off, or broken from the stem by accident, 
their place can never be supplied by a growth 
of the same kind. Suckers and “ gormandisers/' 
of which I shall hereafter speak, take (heir 
place. The collaterals which strike out in a 
lateral direction from the primaries, subsequently 
become the legitimate victim of the pruning 
knife, after their bearing B.ut it often happens. 
