52 



JVotcs and G/eau/no^s. 



the general horizontal direction given to the tree by this mode of treatment, the 

 branches being usually collected into four bunches, which are laid out in the 

 form of a cross. The same kind of arrangement is equally applicable to plants 

 on sloping banks, a basin of earth being formed around the stem to retain water, 

 and the bundles of branches being buried in an up-hill direction. This is shown 

 in fig. 3. 



Towards the end of February tlie buried trees are uncovered, a damjD, warm 

 day being chosen. The earlier this can be safely done the more forward will be 

 the crop. Sometimes half the tree is uncovered at the end of February, and half 

 at the end of March, by which plan there is a chance of securing a better average 

 crop. After uncovering, the branches are separated to equal distances, those 

 which are too near the ground being held up by means of forked sticks. The 

 young shoots growing from the stock are henceforward carefully cut off. This 

 brings the operations to the end of the fifth year. 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 5. 



In the following spring, as soon as the uncovered trees show signs of coming 

 into leaf, disbudding is had recourse to. The older branches present the ap- 

 pearance of fig. 4, fig. 5 being an enlargement of fig. 4, A. As soon as growth 

 commences, the terminal buds of all the young shoots are nipped off, in order to 

 favor the development of the wood buds at the base, and to encourage the young 

 figs already beginning to appear (fig. 5, a). About half the lateral wood buds, those 

 nearest the young figs, are also rubbed off (fig. 5, B). Two buds are always left 

 near the base of each branch (fig. 5, d), and one towards the tip (fig. 5, c), to draw 

 up the sap. The end shoot of each branch is treated in a similar manner, buds 

 being retained to form side shoots at about a foot apart. When tlie young shoots 

 attain the length of about two inches, some of those on the lateral branches and 

 on the end branch are nipped off, mild weatlier being chosen for the operation. 

 On the former, the slioot nearest the base of the branch (fig. 6, c) is allowed to 

 remain, so as to rejjlace the one which bears the fruit of the year. On the latter, 

 a bud near the tip is retained to prolong the branch, as well as some lateral ones 



