trees, and in this respect require the same remedies; but as they bear their fruit on spurs or shoots of two, three, or more years old, they require to be trained in much the same manner as the pear and apple tree.

In cases of blossoming and not bearing, of canker and mortification in the pear and the apple tree, the same remedies are equally applicable and efficient as those recommended for the peach tree.

The greatest defect in old apricot, plum, cherry, pear, and apple trees, trained against walls or espaliers, is generally found to arise from unnatural stumps, which, from improper cutting, will in the course of time, form enormous wasteful and unproductive bushes, growing from all sides of the main branches; although these bushes sometimes answer in a trifling degree the purpose for which they were originally formed, and bear fruit, they are like the principle which directed their growth, unnatural and imperfect, and are more wasteful than productive.

Trees in such a state, when trained in the fan fashion, should have their large branches brought down in the manner directed for peaches, and al artificial or unnatural spurs, except those which grow on the upper side, be cut off close to the stem, and those which grow on the upper side must be so reduced as to leave only such shoots as can be fastened in between and parallel with the horizontals; as those must always be trained in at full length, no

N

more must be suffered to grow than can be allowed

space.

When branches are trained in this manner, the wood shoots will seldom form any where but at the extremity of each year's growth, the intermediate buds forming for fruit, and so continuing to grow in short and compact spurs; and as these, when properly attended to, will always be sufficient for fruit, all intermediate wood shoots must be cut off close to the leading branch. If such wood shoots are rubbed off in the spring, as early as they can be ascertained, it will (by giving the sap they otherwise would consume to the leading and bearing branches) forward and increase both branches and fruit.

When, from the erect position of the stem, the sap does not flow sufficiently into the horizontal branches, as in Forsyth's method of training, with one stem, nor break out in branches where wanted, it may in some degree be directed into the desired channel, by cutting a notch in the wood just above it.

When a shoot cannot be produced on such parts of a naked stem of the peach or apricot where. wanted, one may be obtained by engrafting by approach; this may also be done in plums, cherries, pears, and apples, &c.; but when it is found necessary to cut back large branches, or to cut off the whole of the head of pear, apple, or plum trees, if a graft be attached, by inserting it between the

bark and wood, it will be a much more certain and ready method of forwarding its re-production and growth in a proper form, than awaiting and taking the chance of a young shoot in the natural way.

If trees are found to grow too luxuriantly for the space allowed them, it will be to little purpose we attempt keeping them within compass, by cutting back and shortening the branches, as this in most cases will increase the evil; but if in the month of November, the earth be removed, and a proper proportion of the deepest growing roots cut off, the luxuriance of a tree may be checked in any degree, and rendered more fruitful; this operation may be repeated as often as required, without the least danger of disease or injury, as recommended for Espaliers.

DIRECTIONS

FOR MANAGING OLD STANDARD TREES.

As Standard Trees, both in gardens and orchards, are, like the dwarfs, cut, cramped, and distorted into the most imperfect and unnatural forms, it will be difficult, by any means, short of lopping off, or cutting back the whole of the branches or head, to reduce them to a proper shape; and as this would be the certain loss of fruit for two or three years, it may by most persons be considered as too great a sacrifice; but in cases where the trees are grown so weak and extended as to bear no fruit, but on the extremities of the branches, and those continually breaking from casual pressure, I am persuaded, that in the course of a very few years, the loss would be more than made good by such an operation, in the certainty of a crop, and improved quality of the fruit.

When trees are lopped or cut back, such stems or limbs as grow in places, to sustain leading branches in a proper position, should not be cut off close to the trunk, but left from one to two or three feet; and the one that is most erect should be left so as to stand a foot or two above the rest, to form

a central stem; and a graft, either from its own branches, or some other variety of fruit, may be inserted between the bark and wood; but whether grafting be resorted to, or the tree left to throw out its own shoots, only the one which is rightly placed should be suffered to grow; and if this be sustained for a few years, until it is perfectly and firmly attached, it will, by its extra growth, form a handsome head, and bear more fruit, and in less time than two or more branches will do, when suffered to grow in the usual manner.

It is a common practice in pruning or dressing Standard Trees, when they are overgrown, and the fruit small, to cut away all the small branches in the middle of the tree: and when the object is an immediate improvement of the fruit, this is the most effectual method; but as by this operation the cause is not removed, the effect will soon be reproduced; and with this the bearers being thrown at a great distance from the trunk, they will be in greater danger of injury from winds, snow, &c. In a case of this sort, therefore, it will be a more complete method to divide the limbs or arms as much as possible into tiers, agreeable to the form recommended for young trees, by cutting out all intermediate limbs or branches.

And thus, by giving room for the admission of the sun and air to the small branches growing on those that are left, they would become fruitful; and taking up a large portion of sap, would not only prevent the expansion of the limbs or arms,