faw'd the main Stem of one of the old Trees more than half through, and drove a Wedge into the Wound, which yet did but little good in checking the Vigour of the Tree; fo that I was oblig'd to cut the old Tree entirely from its Root, leaving it only the young Stocks to feed on, which it did with fo much Advantage, that it grew well and produc'd good Fruit.

The other old Trees were all equally invigorated by this Practice, fo that I was forced to !cut off their Communication with fome of the young Stocks, and thereby abridge their over Luxuriance, which is always an Hindrance to bearing: By this Means the Trees became more gentle in their Vegetation, and difpos'd themfelves to bloffom and bear Fruit. But I faw many Inconveniences which they would yet be fubject to, by being treated in the manner of Dwarfs; as, that Pear-trees had three different Modes of giving us bearing Branches; fome kinds would bear upon Wood of one Year, others of two Years, and others of three Years old, fo that it was difficult to keep fome of them in a regular Figure, and expect Fruit from them; and befides, that every Gardiner was not either appris'd of this in general, or else was not experienc'd in the Particulars, which forts would bloffom on one Year's, which on two Years Shoots, &c, and to prune all alike, would lose a great deal of Fruit."

Again, I confider'd, that the great spreading of thefe Dwarf-trees did not only cover a great Quantity of Ground to little Purpose, but prevented the Earth about and under them from receiving the Benefit of the Sun's Heat, which was neceffary for their Health and Support.

Thefe

These Contemplations made me chufe rather to lay them in Efpalier, than fuffer them any longer to remain Dwarfs, and accordingly I had Frames provided for that Purpose. In the laying of the Trees to the Frames, I was fometimes oblig'd to cut fome of the most stubborn Branches half Way through, that they might be brought with more Eafe to fpread upon the Frame; and this cutting had a very good Confequence, for the Trees receiv'd thereby fuch a Check in their vigorous fhooting, that brought them to a right bearing State; the Gardiner had Opportunity of preferving proper Shoots of all forts at their due Length, of maintaining proper Branches of all Kinds, fo that there might be a continued Succeffion of good Fruit, and preferve the Trees from being too much incumber'd with it; for where a Tree is overpower'd with Fruit, it is fubject to two grand Inconveniences, viz. the Fruit is always fmall, or it will not bear above once in three Years: So that as I have remark'd in fome of my former Writings, there must be a Succeffion of good Branches to afford us a Succeffion of good Fruit.

In the next Place, these Espaliers fill very little Space, and fuppofing the Dwarfs they were made from were planted in a Square at twelve Foot diftance, when fuch Trees are laid into Efpalier, there will be Spaces of Ground about ten Foot between every Row, which admits of Air and Sun enough to help the Trees and Fruit, and may be employ'd to fome good Ufe: But it fhould be obferv'd in the contriving fuch Efpaliers, that they rather run Eaft and Weft, that the South Sun may come full upon them.

Again, we have this Advantage from the Method I have here preferib'd, that as the young graffed Parts of the Trees fpread themselves, we may take off by Degrees the older Parts, and at length have our Efpalier quite fill'd from the Wood of the young Plants, and when they come to decay, reftore them again by the fame Method.

Another Way of affifting decay'd Trees is by opening their Roots, and laying about them the Intrails of Animals, or the Animals themselves. I have done this in feveral of the Summer Months with great Succefs, but especially the Month of June is the best Time, about the 20th Day, for then the Trees are preparing to make new Roots. It must be obferv'd likewife, that the laying of frefh Earth to the Roots of Trees fhould be done about the fame Time; and alfo we must be sure to enrich the Earth among old Dwarf-trees, before we plant our young Stocks near them for inarching; for the old Trees muft certainly have impoverish'd the Land where they have long been growing, and the Stocks being of the fame kind would want Nourishment. But if by enriching the Ground about Trees we find them to grow over luxuriant, fo that they leave bearing, then I would prescribe a Method which has been fuccefsfully practis'd by Mr. Tho mas Fairchild.

- In February, he advifes to lay open the Roots, and cut off close by the Stem fome of the largest Roots with a fharp Chiffel, and throw in the Earth as foon as that Operation is over; by which Means the Tree will be fufficiently hinder'd from an Over-flux of raw Sap, and incline it to digeft and ripen that which it already pof

felles,

fes, and fo difpofe it for framing Buds for Bloffom.

But when a Tree is thus difpos'd for Bearing, we are to guard against many Accidents, as Blights, frofty Dews, Rains falling upon the Bloffoms, and Dale Mifts. To prevent Blights, I have already given fome Directions in my former Works; and to prevent Injuries by frofty Dews falling upon the Bloffoms, the Reverend and Curious Mr. Laurence has prefcribed a Method in his Books of Gardening; and I find fuch Advantage by defending the bloffoming Trees from the Wet, that I am perfuaded, that if even glass Frames were to be plac'd over fome of the best forts, when they are in Flower, they would foon pay the Expence; for where this is practis'd, as at Mr. Millet's at North-End, near Fulham, there is hardly one Bloffom mifles setting for Fruit; and I obferve, that when a Tree is expos'd to the Weather, fo that the Rain wets the Bloffoms before they fet, there is feldom any Fruit. I fuppofe the Rain, in this Cafe, prevents the flying about of the farina fœcundans, or impregnating Duft, according to this System of the Generation of Plants, fo that it cannot perform its Office of fetting the Fruit; or, in other Terms, to light upon or enter the Uterus of the Bloffoms. The Defence against Dale Mifts is yet to be confider'd; but their ill Effects are curiously defcrib'd in a Letter to me from the Reverend Mr. Laurence, which I fhall infert for the Information of my Readers,

་

I

To Mr. BRADLEY, &C.

Dear Sir,

Suppofe by this Time you are return'd to Cambden-boufe out of the Weft, from whence I receiv'd your very kind and obliging Letter: And as I was willing to take the first Opportunity to return you Thanks for it, fo I could not but give you the History of a Misfortune I have met with, because I know you will fympathize with me in my Grief. On May-day laft, in the Morning, I had the melancholy Sight to behold all my tender Fruit (that was not more than ordinarily guarded with Shelters) ruin'd and deftroy'd, by one of thofe Dale Mifts, attended with a Froft, which I have defcrib'd in my second Part. Till then I never had a more hopeful Profpect of Fruit in my Life; but my Standard, and Dwarf Cherries, and Plums of all the beft forts are, I think, totally destroy'd; and fuch Shoots of my Vines as projected three or four Inches from the Wall were alfo all cut off with their Fruit. The tender Shoots of Hollies, Walnuts, Mulberries, and Ashes were all kill'd. Abricots and Peaches efcap'd pretty well, because they were guarded with Leaves. My Trouble and Sorrow for this Lofs is the greater, because so near me as the Church, which is little more than a Stone's Caft off, on a rifing Ground, none of this Mischief happen'd; but all the Vales round about me have been affected with it more or lefs: I much fear a Blister on my Pear Leaves, and then my Fruit will be a