Old Brownsmith had a sharp knife in his hand, and I was holding the whetstone and a thin-bladed saw that he used to cut through the thicker branches.
"Now look here, Grant.

Here's this plum-tree, and if you look at it you will see that there are two kinds of wood in it." "Two kinds of wood, sir ?" "Yes.

Can't you tell the difference ?" "No, sir; only that some of the shoots are big and strong, and some are little and twiggy." "Exactly: that is the difference, my lad.

Well, can you see any more difference in the shoots ?" I looked for some moments, and then replied: "Yes; these big shoots are long and smooth and straight, and the little twiggy ones are all over sharp points." "Then as there is too much wood there, which had we better cut out.
What should you do ?" "Cut out the scrubby little twigs, and nail up these nice long shoots." "That's the way, Grant! Now you'll know more about pruning after this than Shock has learned in two years.

Look here, my lad; you've fallen into everybody's mistake, as a matter of course.