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most productive and valuable trees, will be tbose worked on seedling stocks — 

 and the higher up the better, doubtless, so that merely the bearing portion of the 

 tops be improved ; because, as we think, seedhng trees possess the most elements 

 of hardihood and productiveness. If this be correct, every portion of the seedling 

 stock that is abstracted, would tend to lessen those qualities. Here, however, as 

 in many similar cases we are obliged to compromise. Allowing that seedlings are 

 the most hardy and 2:)roductive, we do not like their product, and hence graft 

 thera. So in the case of entire seedling bodies and main limbs, viz., those which 

 have the lower portion of the stock seedling, and the rest improved — though the 

 former class may be a little better, yet the cost and trouble, and I'isk of grafting 

 over whole tops, are so much greater than in stock-grafting while young, that the 

 latter, on the whole, is as a general, thing much to be preferred — at least with all 

 passably good growers. Very feeble sorts should always be worked at standard 

 height, and on the strongest stocks. To return from this partial digression, 

 should the nursery ti'ees burst much the second fall, it will be of great service to 

 throw up a ridge of dirt along the rows, as high up as the bursting extends; to 

 be done just before luinter sets in, or about the 20th November; but not early 

 in the fall, as that would only aggravate the evil, by causing the trees to burst 

 hio'her up. This dirt to be removed eaily the next summer. This practice of 

 heaping up dirt in the fall, around the base or collar, cannot be too strongly 

 recommended for young orchard trees when newly planted out, and until they 

 get large and well-established. It not only neutralizes the evil of bursting, but 

 protects the trees from the ravages of mice, and the roots from the repeated 

 freezings and thawings. It also forms an excellent protection against 



2. The second variety of injury, which is simply the heaving out of the roots 

 hy alternate freezing and thawing; occurring mostly in the spring, and on low, 

 moist clayey ground, which should therefore, and for many other reasons, be 

 avoided as far as possible in making permanent plantations of young trees. 

 For use in the summer season alone, such ground may, if not too wet, prove 

 valuable. 



3. The destruction of the surface roots by repeated freezing and thawing, 



ii^hen the ground, by long and naked exposure to the sun, has become dried or 

 racked open. — This is sometimes quite troublesome, especially to young trees on 

 outhern slopes and dry soils, as raised beds or sandy knolls. When not fatal, 

 it greatly weakens the roots, often causing them to become " black-hearted." This 

 may be wholly prevented by mulching, or sowing oats (among nursery trees) 

 about the middle of August ; a most admirable protection, only that it some- 

 times becomes a haunt for the mice; for which also we have a remedy, that in 

 at least one thorough trial proved quite effectual. It is simply to provide food 

 and haunts more congenial than they find among the trees. Let piles of straw be 



