DEC.] THE NURSERY. 571 



orchards, 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. You may likewise continue to plant and prune all manner of 

 hardy fruit-trees, but particularly those mentioned in the Fruit- 

 Garden for this month. Here I would recommend to your atten- 

 tion, the perusal of the article Orchard in January, page 38, Febru- 

 ary page 133, and March page 216. 



THE VINEYARD. 



IN the middle and eastern states, little remains to be done in the 

 vineyard at this season ; indeed it sometimes happens in the former, 

 that the ground is open in the beginning of the month, in which 

 case you may plough between the young vines and earth them up, 

 as directed in November, if then omitted. It will be of considerable 

 use to lay some litter round the roots, and a little way up the stems 

 of such tender kinds as were planted in the preceding spring and 

 autumn, to protect them from very severe frost, till they are once 

 fully established. For further particulars of what may be done in 

 this month, in and for the vineyard, as well as in the ensuing, see 

 page 41. 



In the southern states you may now prune vines, as directed in 

 February ; and south of the thirty-fifth degree of latitude, vineyards 

 may be planted agreeably to the instructions given in March. 



THE NURSERY. 



New-Planted Trees. 



CONTINUE the care of the more curious and tender sorts of 

 new-planted trees and shrubs ; where there was no litter laid be- 

 tween the rows in November, let it be no longer neglected, and 

 bring it up close to their stems, the better to protect all the roots 

 from frost, should the winter prove so severe as to destroy their tops, 

 which may also be protected as directed in page 574. The roots and 

 lower parts of their stems being thus preserved, they will generally 

 shoot out freely in the ensuing spring, from near the surface of the 

 ground. 



Seedling' Trees. 



Seedlings which make but slow progress in growth the first 

 year, such as pines, &c. must now be taken due care of, as directed 

 in page 555. 



