DEC.] THE FRUIT GARDEN, 603 



Figs in particular will require this attention, and besides, the tops 

 and stems of the tender kinds should be covered with mats, or other 

 suitable protection where the frosts are extremely severe. 



PRUNING APPLES AND PEARS ON ESPALIERS, ETC. 



Apples and pears being perfectly hardy, may now be pruned if 

 the weather happens to be mild, agreeably to the directions given on 

 page 35 ; but if this is not deemed necessary on account of dispatch- 

 ing business when it can conveniently be done, it will be rather 

 better to defer pruning till the latter end of February, unless you do 

 it before the severe frosts set in. 



As to the pruning of stone fruit-trees, I would not recommend it 

 to be done in the middle or eastern States at this season, for the 

 reasons assigned on page 234, &c., but in the southern States it may 

 be now performed with the greatest safety. 



Gooseberries and currants being extremely hardy, may be pruned 

 in any of the winter months ; but where it is intended to propagate 

 the best kinds from the cuttings, it will not be advisable to prune or 

 dress them when the ground is so frozen as to prevent your being 

 able to plant the good cuttings taken off in pruning. 



OTHER NECESSARY WORK. 



You must be careful to keep the frost out of the apartments where 

 the choice winter fruits are put up, for should any of them get frozen 

 they would certainly decay soon after, and rot the others about them. 

 Examine the fruit which you have on shelves in dry warm cellars, 

 once every ten days, and take away any that you find tainted ; con- 

 tinue over them near a foot thick of clean dry straw, and secure the 

 windows and doors from the admission of frost. 



Take off all moss from your fruit-trees, and when it is gathered, 

 carry it quite out of the garden to prevent its multiplying by seed, 

 which it is very apt to do. 



Nail or tie up the dangling shoots which are loose on walls or 

 espaliers, to prevent their being dashed about by the winds, and 

 consequently their bark injured. 



Repair all your decayed espaliers, or prepare stakes and other 

 materials for so doing as soon as the frost gets out of the ground. 



Make or provide and paint such new frame- work trellises as you 

 intend to erect next spring, and do every other work that may have 

 a tendency to forward your business at that season. 



PREPARE FOR FORCING FRUIT-TREES/ 



Towards the latter end of this, or the beginning of next month, 

 put on the glasses or lights on your fire-heat forcing-frames, such as 

 are described on page 51, and immediately prune and nail up the 

 trees in regular order, if not done before. 



By this method the trees will not be so sensible of the sudden 

 transition from the depth of winter to spring, when you kindle fires, 



