NOV.] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 585 



fruit the preceding summer. The supernumerary weakly shoots may 

 also be cut off, and likewise the straggling tops of those you intend 

 to lay down ; or, they may now have a general and final pruning as 

 directed on page 146. 



This done, dig the earth between the rows, clearing out all useless 

 suckers and weeds, previously adding some very rotten manure, if 

 the ground seems to need it; then, being provided with some hooked 

 wooden pegs and a number of long, small hoop-poles, or the like, lay 

 down each row of shoots gently on one side, on which lay the hoop- 

 poles, lengthwise the rows, pegging them down with the hooked 

 sticks, so as to keep the shoots close to the earth ; after which cover 

 all over with light litter, straw, hay, barley chaff, fern, leaves of trees, 

 or any other light covering that will protect the plants from the 

 effects of the various changes of the weather, which, and not the 

 frost only, are the causes of their destruction. Here they will re- 

 main in safe and good condition till the beginning of March, when 

 the litter is to be taken off, the plants raised up, and the ground 

 receive its spring dressing. 



Some lay the shoots into, and cover them with the earth ; but 

 although this has a clean appearance, and sometimes will answer very 

 well, the buds will be more liable to receive injury in this way than 

 when covered with light litter as above. 



FIG-TREES. 



The more tender kinds of fig-trees which are planted against walls 

 or board fences, should now be gone over, and all fruit found there- 

 on, whether ripe or unripe, picked off; for these would rot in winter, 

 and injure the young branches intended for next year's bearing. 



At the same time nail up close to the wall or fence, all the princi- 

 pal shoots, the better to secure them from the frost and power of the 

 wind ; and if bass mats are likewise nailed up so as to cover the 

 trees, an important protection will be afforded thereby to the young 

 shoots. As to pruning, that should not be done either in the middle 

 or eastern States till March. * (See page 225.) 



Fig-trees, growing in the espalier way, may also be protected from 

 frost by laying bass-mats over them and making them fast, or by 

 laying boughs of pine or cedar up to them. It would also be pro- 

 per, in a severe season, to lay some long litter around the roots of the 

 trees. 



PRUNING OF FRUIT-TREES. 



Having in the Fruit Garden for October expressed my opinion 

 respecting the pruning of fruit-trees at this season, it is unnecessary 

 to repeat it in this place. (See page 547.) 



