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is only sacrificed to utility for one or two 
seasons. To understand the proper 
mode of pruning these trees, the culti¬ 
vator must be acquainted with the cha¬ 
racter of his subjects as regards their 
manner of producing fruit, leaves, and 
branches, to each of which belong an 
importance proportionate to each other 
in about the order they are named. A 
little experience will soon enable the 
operator to distinguish in early spring, 
when the pruning should be done, be¬ 
tween fruit buds and those which only 
produce leaves and branches, the former 
are usually placed at or near the base, 
and the extremity of the preceding- 
seasons shoots; while the wood-buds, 
as they are called, occur between them, 
occupying the middle of the branch; 
with this knowledge it is easy to form a 
pretty accurate idea of the quantity of 
both felossom and foliated parts taken 
off or retained at each cutting, and ac¬ 
cording as either is desired so the pruning 
must fee regulated. With a full-grown 
specimen, that is capable of maturing a 
full crop of fruit, it is usual to cut each 
branch back to one or two wood-buds 
immediately preceding the flower-buds 
at the base of the shoot; and this en¬ 
sures a sufficiency of branches for bearing 
in the next year, while it prevents the 
crowded state which would arise were a 
greater number of buds retained; and 
also affords the fruit a better chance of 
attaining both size and maturity ; it is, 
however, always necessary to leave at 
least one leaf-bud above the fruit-bearing 
portion of the stem to carry on the ac¬ 
tion of the branch, or a probability will 
exist of its dying back to the next below, 
the fruit-bud being incapable of acting- 
on the fluids of the plant in the requisite 
manner, and therefore useless in the 
elaboration of sap or the extension of 
the branch. Whenever it may be ne¬ 
cessary to increase the number of 
branches beyond the ordinary rate, the 
pruning may be restricted to the re¬ 
moval of only a small part of the shoot; 
and by rubbing off the fruit buds, the 
remainder will grow vigorously and soon 
furnish the vacant parts. Pruning is 
generally performed in February and 
March; the only point of observance 
being to have it done before the buds 
get so large as to incur danger from 
the necessary handling. As it is pro¬ 
ceeded with, the trees should be nailed 
to the wall, keeping- the bearing branches 
at least eight inches one from another, 
observing to train each shoot straight 
from its origin towards the centre ol 
the space it is allotted to fill, to avoid 
crossing or crowding one branch upon 
another, and to have every part of the tree 
filled equally with bearing-wood of the 
preceding year’s growth; the shreds by 
which each branch is fastened to the 
wall should fit loosely, so as to cause no 
hinderance to the swelling of the part it 
encircles, and no more should be used 
than is absolutely necessary to secure 
the branches in their proper places when 
the additional weight of leaves and fruit 
is produced on them. 
The summer pruning, as it exerts so 
much influence on both the present crop 
and future progress of the trees, should 
have the utmost attention; for by the 
judicious removal of superfluous wood 
at this time, much of the cutting other¬ 
wise necessary in winter may be avoided; 
all foreright shoots should be completely 
taken off, and those proceeding in a 
lateral direction thinned to the quantity 
likely to be wanted for the succeeding 
season; much of this may be done in 
May, when from their small size the 
greater part may be removed with the 
finger and thumb, and in the following 
month and July those which are retained 
should be nailed in as they require it. 
Besides pruning and training, these 
trees require attention at other times, 
as in the spring, just before the blossoms 
begin to expand, it will be necessary to 
protect them from severe frosts; for 
this purpose woollen netting- or other 
light material of similar kind should be 
hung over them, to be taken off in the 
day time, and returned again at night, 
until danger from the weather is. past; 
shortly after this will occur the thinning 
of the fruit ; most healthy trees set 
more fruit than should be allowed, from 
a regard to the produce of the next year, 
i,o remain; they must consequently be 
