By manuring it at the right season, he both adds to its store of nourishment and gives it the _stimulus_ which will help it to absorb and assimilate the nourishment that is immediately available for its use.

And, by pruning and training it judiciously, he gives it the _guidance_ which will enable it to develop itself to the best advantage from the fruit-bearing point of view (fruit-bearing being the end which he sets it).

He does these three things for it, but he does no more than these.

He realises that in all these operations he is only taking advantage of the innate powers and tendencies of the tree, and enabling these to deploy themselves under as favourable conditions as possible; and he is therefore well content to leave the rest to the tree itself, feeling sure that its own spontaneous effort to achieve perfection will do all that is needed.

His trust in the ability and willingness of the tree to work out its salvation is complete.
These are the lines on which the farmer and the fruit-grower conduct their business,--lines, the neglect of which would involve them in early disaster and in ultimate ruin.