CHAP. 45.—ERRORS THAT MAY BE COMMITTED IN PRUNING.
But, before everything, especial care should be taken that
intended remedies are not productive of ill results; as these
may arise from either remedial measures being applied in excess or at unseasonable times. Clearing away the branches is
of the greatest benefit to trees, but to slaughter [Note] them this
way every year, is productive of the very worst results. The
vine is the only tree that requires lopping every year, the
myrtle, the pomegranate, and olive every other; the reason
being that these trees shoot with great rapidity. The other
trees are lopped less frequently, and none of them in autumn;
the trunk even is never scraped, [Note] except in spring. In prun-
ing a tree, all that is removed beyond what is absolutely necessary, is so much withdrawn from its vitality.