FRUIT CULTURE. 757 



winter; they may then be buried with their lower ends in the ground, or kept in earth in the 

 cellar till spring. Grape cuttings are also made as soon as it will answer to prune the vines 

 in the autumn; and being planted at once in the ground, covered as above noted for 

 gooseberries and currants, are found to grow successfully. 



Scarce sorts of grapes, which it is desirable to multiply extensively, are frequently 

 propagated by joints: that is, by buds having about two inches of wood attached to each 

 every bud in this way forming a plant. When this mode is adopted, it is usual to plant the 

 joints about half an inch deep, in light soil, in a common hot-bed prepared for the purpose, 

 or each joint is planted in a pot by itself. In the first way a greater number of plants may 

 be grown in a small space. As a general rule, cuttings succeed best when they are taken off 

 just between the young and the previous year s wood; or, in the case of young side shoots, 

 when they are cut off close to the branch preserving the collar of the shoot. The lower end 

 should be cut smoothly across just below a bud, the soil should in all cases be pressed firmly 

 about the lower end of the cutting, and it should always be planted before the buds 

 commence swelling, that the wound may in some measure heal before growth and the 

 absorption of fluid commences.&quot; 



Propagating by Layers and Suckers. A layer is a branch or vine not separated 

 from the plant, which is bent down and covered with soil for the purpose of having it take 

 root, and thus the variety be propagated. There are many kinds of plants that do not grow 

 readily from seed, or take root from cuttings well, that can be readily rooted in this way. 

 Raspberries, blackberries, and many varieties of grape vines are more easily propagated by 

 this means than any other; there are also many kinds of fruit trees that may be treated in 

 the same manner. Fruit trees are usually layered in the spring, the layers becoming well 

 rooted by autumn, when they may be taken off if desired; but they may also be layered 

 with good success as late as the early part of July. 



When raspberries, blackberries, and similar plants are to be layered, it should not be 

 done until the tips of the plants grow nearly free from leaves, and are of a dark, purplish 

 color, which will be in August or September. In making layers, the ground around the 

 parent plant should be made mellow with a spade. Then bend down a branch so that it will lie 

 upon the ground, and make a little trench three or four inches deep to receive it, cover with 

 soil and press it down, keep the end of the branch a few inches above the ground. Some 

 kinds of plants that are layered will take root much more easily by making a slanting cut 

 half way through the upper or under side of the shoot before covering it with soil, since the 

 descending sap in the branch is somewhat arrested at this point, and causes little fibres and 

 rootlets to put out rapidly. Ringing, twisting, or slightly wounding a limb answers a similar 

 purpose, although not as well. Fastening the branch down with a hooked peg before covering 

 with soil helps to hold the branch in place more securely. 



Thinning Fruit. It is too frequently the custom with farmers, after setting out fruit 

 trees, to leave them to care for themselves; they are therefore left to live or die, without 

 pruning, culture, or care of any kind. The result of this treatment is that of those trees that 

 survive many become diseased from the attacks of insect enemies, their growth is retarded, 

 while the fruit will be of poorer quality and less abundant than if proper care were given. 

 The trees are allowed to overbear, being heavily laden with fruit one year, with little or no 

 fruit the next, the vital forces of the trees being so excessively stimulated by the growth and 

 ripening of the fruit during the bearing season, as to require a rest the following year to 

 recuperate. Besides the failure of the fruit crop the following year from overbearing, this 

 over-production involves another difficulty; exhaustion follows, and the wood that is formed 

 during the season does not become fully matured or ripened, and is consequently frozen dur 

 ing the winter; hence there are few blossoms that are put out the following spring. When 



