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longer intervals, as at three, five, seven, or sooner, that the wounds may chap.recover, and nothing be deformed.
Evergreens do not well support to be decapitated; side-boughs theyfreely spare in April, and during the spring ; and if you cut at first two orthree inches from the body, and the next spring after close to the stem,covering the wounds with wax, or well-tempered clay, the most tendermay suffer such amputations without prejudice.
That the side and collateral branches of the Fir cut, or broken off,spring no more ; and though the tops sometimes do, yet they neverprosper to beautiful and erect heads, in which consists the grace of thatbeautiful tree.
Another caution is, that you be sure to cut off such tender branchesto the quick, which you find have been cropt by goats, or any othercattle who leave a drivel where they bite; which not only infects thebranches, but sometimes endangers the whole; the reason is, that thenatural sap’s recourse to the stem communicates the venom to all therest, as the whole mafs and habit of animal blood is by a gangrene orvenereal taint.
Divers other precepts of this nature I could here enumerate, had notthe great experience, faithful and accurate description how this necefsarywork is to be performed, set down by our countryman honest Lawson,prevented all that the most inquisitive can suggest: The particulars areso ingenious and highly material, that you will not be displeased to readthem in his own style and character' 1 .
agfS, saith. lie, % rules ant! experience tlQ Consent tO a pruningann lopping of trees; pet babe not anp that 3[ fenoto Describes untous (erce&t in Dark ann general too##) tobat, or tobtcb are thosesuperfluous boughs mbicb tot must take atuapi ano that is the
^Lawson’s Book is entitled, A New Orchard and, Garden* It was published in 1597.-Another edition appeared in 1623.