

MARCH] THE NURSERY. 269 



MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT-TREES GRAFTED AND BUDDED LAST YEAR. 



Those fruit- trees which were grafted last year should now have 

 their shoots shortened, that they may send forth lateral branches to 

 form regular heads ; if they are intended for espaliers or wall-trees, 

 observe the method recommended in page 224 ; if for standards, the 

 stems must be trained up to a proper height and then topped, or 

 some of the shoots shortened, so as to produce handsome well fur- 

 nished heads. 



The stocks which were budded the last summer, and in which the 

 buds still remain dormant, should now have their heads cut off a 

 little above the budded parts j by which means the whole nourish- 

 ment will go to the inoculations, which will soon begin to advance 

 their first shoots. 



In proceeding to do this, cut the head of the stock off, sloping 

 behind the inoculated bud, either almost close thereto or about a 

 hand's breadth above it ; which part of the stock, remaining above, 

 will serve for tying thereto the first shoot from the bud in summer, 

 to secure it from the wind, but must be cut down close next spring. 



The stumps left last season, for a similar purpose, should now be 

 cut off close to where the bud was inserted, cutting them effectually 

 in to the clean fresh wood, in order that the wounds may cover over 

 and heal, which will be effected in one season, if no spotted or un- 

 sound wood be left. 



TRANSPLANTING STOCKS TO BUD AND GRAFT UPON. 



Make new plantations of stocks to bud and graft the different kinds 

 of choice fruit upon. 



Many of those raised from seeds, &c., last year, will now be ready 

 for this purpose. 



Let these be planted out, as soon in the month as the weather will 

 permit, in rows three or four feet asunder, and at least twelve inches 

 distant from one another in the row. They should be planted by 

 line, either dibbling in the small plants, or the large ones trenched 

 or holed in with the spade ; or you may cut out small trenches by 

 line, placing the plants therein at the above distance, and turn the 

 earth in upon their roots, treading it gently along. 



SOWING STONES TO RAISE STOCKS FOR GRAFTING. 



Where plum, peach, apricot, and cherry-stones, &c. were neglected, 

 or could not, in consequence of the weather, be sown last month, let 

 it be done as early in this as possible, agreeably to the rules laid 

 down in page 159, which see. 



SOWING KERNELS OF APPLES, PEARS, AND QUINCES FOR STOCKS. 



If the sowing of these were neglected, or impracticable last month, 

 let it be done in this as early as possible, sowing them tolerably 

 hick, in beds, and covering them with light dry earth, a little better 



