50 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



which is the reverse of s. The bark on each side of the 

 perpendicular slit being cautiously opened with the handle 

 of the knife, the bud and shield are inserted, as at t. The 



Fig. 3. 



upper tip of the shield is cut off horizontally, and brought 

 neatly to fit the bark of the stock at the transverse incision. 

 Slight ties of moist bast-matting axe then applied. In 

 about a month or six weeks the ligatures may be taken 

 away, when, if the operation have been successful, the bud 

 will be fresh and full, and the shield firmly united to the 

 wood. Next spring a strong shoot is thrown out, and to 

 this the stock is headed down in the course of the summer. 

 Planting. — After propagation, the next care is to trans- 

 fer the young trees to those places, whether in the open 

 border or against the wall, where they are to remain ; and 

 it is of importance that these situations should be consider- 

 ably selected ; adapting the trees, iccording to their cha- 

 racter and qualities, to sites suitable in respect of soil, 

 shelter, and aspect. Planting may be performed at any 

 time in the beginning of winter, or in the early spring 

 months ; but it is considered that the most advantageous 

 seasons are immediately after the fall of the leaf in autumn, 

 and before the ascent of the sap in spring. The trees should 



