128 THE FRUIT-GARDEN, [FEB. 



SOUTHERN STATES. 



In Georgia, South Carolina, and other parts of the more south- 

 ern states, this will be a very principal month with the inhabitants, 

 for making their Kitchen-gardens ; for the method, of doing which I 

 can only refer them to the Kitchen -garden for March and April, the 

 work recommended to be done in these months being quite applica- 

 ble with them at this season. 



In the more northerly of the southern states, much work can be 

 done in the Kitchen-garden this month ; but the next will be their 

 important period, to which I refer them. 



. THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



Pruning Wall and Espalier 



PEACHES, nectarines, and apricots, should, in the middle 

 States, be pruned about the latter end of this month ; the begin- 

 ning of next will be a good time in the eastern states. This must 

 be duly attended to before the buds are much swelled ; for then, 

 many of them would be unavoidably rubbed off in performing the 

 work, 



Examine these trees well, and cut away all such parts as are use- 

 less, both in old and young wood ; and leave a proper supply of the 

 last years shoots for next summer's bearing ; all old wood that has 

 advanced a considerable length, and produced no young shoots 

 proper for bearing this year, nor support branches that do, are use- 

 less, and should now be cut out, to make room for better ; observing 

 that a general successional supply of young bearing wood, of the 

 best well-placed shoots of last summer, must now be retained in all 

 parts of the tree at moderate distances, to bear the fruit to be ex- 

 pected the ensuing season ; at the same time cut away all the ill- 

 placed and superfluous shoots, and very luxuriant growths, together 

 with part of the former year's bearers, &c. to make room for the 

 successional bearing shoots, as observed in January. 



As you proceed, let the supply of reserved shoots be shortened, 

 each according to its strength. Shoots of a vigorous growth should 

 be shortened but a little ; that is, you may cut off about one fourth 

 of the original length : those of a moderate growth should be 

 shortened more in proportion, by cutting off about one third ; for 

 instance, a shoot of eighteen inches should be shortened to twelve, 

 or thereabouts ; and observe the same proportion according to the 

 different length of the shoots. 



But for the more particular method of pruning these trees, sec 

 the work of the fruit garden in January, page 2 1 . 



Pruning of Apples and Pears, &c. 



Prune apples, pears, plums and cherries, against walls or espal- 

 iers ; and, if possible, let the whole of them be finished this month. 



