SECT. VII* OF GRAFFIX&* 83 



by a downright cut of a sharp spade, a little distance 

 from the stems, nearer or farther off according to 

 their age, to shorten straggling roots, and produce 

 new ones more at home : Let this be done in October 

 or February ; the former time is best for the older 

 plants, and the latter for young ones. The spade 

 also may be drove under them to cut off the tap 

 roots, where it is not an object to preserve them* 

 By this practice, a good, full, brushy root will be 

 obtained', fitting plants for a prosperous removal ; 

 but it should be done a year before transplanting : 

 It improves also the soil. Evergreens in particular 

 would be safer to move, being thus treated ; and if 

 only to be moved from one part of the grounds to 

 another, balls of earth in this case will hold well to 

 them. Immediately after the operation, a sound 

 watering will be proper to settle the earth to the 

 roots, except the earth be quite moist ; but the dig- 

 ging a nursery is best done when the ground is dry. 



SECTION VII. 



OF CHAFFING. 



(jrRAFFING, (or grafting), is the insertion of a 

 don into a stock, or stem, raised for the purpose, 

 and is necessary to the ensuring of good fruit; i. e. 

 to have the same (or at least with little difference) 

 produced on the new tree, as that of the old one from 

 whence the graff was taken: It is sometimes per- 

 formed on the branches of trees, and may be on 



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