38 AMERICAN HANDBOOK 



to make way for some alterations in a car- 

 riage house. The fruit was at the time as 

 large as pigeons' eggs. The young shoots 

 were cut back, as far as they seemed "watery," 

 to check evaporation. The roots were wa- 

 tered, and covered with damp mats as fast 

 as they were exposed. It was taken out 

 without the particle of a ball, planted at 

 once, and finally well watered. Not a leaf 

 withered. It was not watered again the 

 whole season. The next spring it was a 

 sheet of blossom, and had the curculio been 

 well disposed, would have borne a splendid 

 crop. 



VI. PRUNING. 



27. Is it necessary to cut back the branches 

 of a tree on transplanting ? As much so as 

 it may be necessary to cut off a man's limb 

 to save his life. In either case, it is a neces- 

 sity upon which the operator might well 

 ponder, and hesitate to act. 



28. If fall planting be adopted, the elabo- 

 rated sap, contained in every branch, will 

 assist in the formation of roots. As there is 



