604 THE ORCHARD. [DEC. 



as they would if the lights were not now put on ; and it will gradu- 

 ally bring your trees to a state of vegetation, for the works of nature 

 are performed by degrees, and not in a hurry. For general informa- 

 tion respecting the construction of forcing-frames and houses, of every 

 kind, and the methods of working them, see the Fruit Garden for 

 January, &c. 



SOUTHERN STATES. 



In such of the southern States as have not severe frost in winter, 

 you may now prune apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, necta- 

 rines, and apricots; quinces, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, and 

 every other kind of fruit-tree, the orange family and the fig excepted. 

 You may also plant all the above, and any other sorts with great 

 propriety at this season, excepting the orange family only. For the 

 methods of pruning, see January, and of planting, see March. 



THE ORCHARD. 



Apples and pear-trees that are in good health, may now be pruned 

 agreeably to the directions given on page 56, &c., to which I par- 

 ticularly refer you ; but it will be better to defer the pruning of 

 stone fruit-trees to February, and of all trees that are in a bad state 

 of health to the beginning of March, in which month (page 234, 

 &c.) you will find the best methods of treating them for the restora- 

 tion of their health and vigor. 



Rub and scrape off moss wherever it appears on your fruit-trees, 

 it robs them of their nourishment, prevents their free perspiration, 

 and is an enemy to them in every way. 



You may now cart manure into the orchard, and spread it over the 

 whole ground, if necessary, or over the roots of such trees as you 

 think are in most need of it ; this will not only be of very consider- 

 able service to the trees, but also to any crops of grass or grain, &c., 

 that you expect off the place the ensuing seasons. 



It will be of considerable advantage to new planted trees to lay- 

 long litter, &c. around their roots to protect them from frost, as di- 

 rected in the Fruit Garden for this month. 



The hedges which enclose your orchard and other compartments, 

 and that are grown tall, straggling, and thin, may now be cut down 

 and plashed, as directed on page 279 ; you need be under no appre- 

 hension of their suffering by frost, especially the white thorns. 



SOUTHERN STATES. 



"When the ground continues open in winter, or so much so as not 

 to interrupt the operation of ploughing, you may manure your or- 

 chards, and plough such of them as you intend to lay down with 

 clover, or grass of any kind, or to raise crops of grain or potatoes in. 



