LECT. vi PLANTING VEGETABLES AND FRUITS 95 



root carefully in tine soil, which press firmly about 

 them by carefully treading, not ramming the soil 

 hard as is sometimes advised. Secure the trees 

 firmly to a suitable support, providing a soft pad to 

 prevent abrasion of the bark. If a surface dressing 

 of some such manure as peat moss litter, out of a 

 stable, or short farmyard manure, can be given at 

 once, it will do much good. Spread it on two or 

 three inches thick, a foot farther than the roots 

 extend. 



Thin out small and crowded growths at the time 

 of planting, and half shorten the long young main 

 branches ; then in spring, when the buds swell, cut 

 each shoot still lower, pruning to the bud from which 

 new growth is required. Prune with a clean short 

 slope, just above the bud, so as to leave plenty of 

 stored sap to sustain the embryo shoot when growth 

 begins, and let the end buds point outwards, as the 

 growths will take the same direction and make an 

 open tree. 



Watering, both of fruit and vegetables, must be 

 thorough when it is done. A mere wetting is use- 

 less, and to retain moisture in the soil, apply the 

 surface dressings, termed mulching. It has been 

 stated before, and we desire to enforce the truth by 

 repetition, that in hot weather it is always best to 

 water either in the evening or as late as possible in 

 the afternoon, to avoid the rapid evaporation which 

 occurs when water is applied in the full glare of 

 a hot summer's day. 



