ESSEX SOCIETY. 71 



weeds. In the spring of the second season, as early as the 

 weather will admit, we select the largest of one year's growth, 

 take them up, shorten their tap-roots, and then plant them out 

 in nursery rows, one foot apart, and three feet between the rows. 

 The following autumn, we generally bud all these within three 

 inches of the ground. 



Budding. This is usually done in September, and generally 

 succeeds best when performed in cloudy weather, or in the morn- 

 ing or evening ; for the great power of the mid-day sun is apt 

 to dry and shrink the cuttings and buds. In selecting buds, 

 they should be taken from well-ripened shoots, and not from im- 

 mature ones that frequently start from and near the centre of 

 the tree. Cut off the unripe buds upon the extreme end of the 

 shoot, leaving.only those that are smooth and well-developed ; 

 and also the leaves, leaving about one half of the leaf -stem, for 

 the convenience of inserting the buds. Great care should be 

 taken, in raising the bark for the insertion of the bud, that the 

 cambium be hot injured ; this cambium is a secretion between 

 the wood and bark. In about three weeks, you will see whether 

 the buds are taken, by their plumpness. If they are shrivelled, you 

 can then ordinarily re-bud, as the bark, in young and thrifty 

 seedlings, will usually peel through the month of September, and 

 often into October. If the buds are well united, and the tree 

 has swelled, or the ligature seems to be cutting the stock, it must 

 be removed. When the budding has been performed late, we 

 occasionally let the bandage remain until the following spring. 



Cutting the stock. Ik the ensuing spring, as soon as the buds 

 commence swelling, we head down the stock with a sloping cut 

 within two inches of the bud ; if the tree makes a strong growth 

 during the early part of the season, we then, on the last of July 

 or first of August, cut off the remaining wood, close to the budded 

 shoot. We, in common with nearly all cultivators, bud all nur- 

 sery trees, in preference to grafting, considering it better in every 

 respect, producing a much stronger growth. 



Side-shoots not to be removed. With young trees it has been 

 the practice of some, to trim off the laterals or side-shoots, which 

 causes the trees to make a slender and weeping top ; these shoots 

 should not be taken off while the trees are young and thrifty ; 



