142 The Fruit Garden. [Mar. 



to flick them between the branches and the wall, in fuch 

 manner as to ihelter all thofe branches which are in blof- 

 fom : they may be permitted to remain conilantly, till 

 the fruit is fairly fet, and the bloflbm dropped, then to 

 be taken away : it is the fafeft way to continue thefe or 

 other occafional Ihelters, till the fruit is as big asMarge 

 peas. 



Some people in default of evergreens, Hick their trees, 

 in time of their bloom, with branches of dried fern, 

 which have often a good effed in (heltering the tender 

 bloHbm. 



P runt fig Pears, Plums, Cherries, Apples, l^c. 



Finifh pruning pears, plums, cherries, and apple-trees, 

 either againfl walls, efpaliers, or llandards. 



Pruning of thefe, and all other fruit-trees, which yet 

 remain unpruned, fhould now be forwarded as faft as 

 polTible, that the whole may be finiihed by the middle or 

 end of the month. 



Planting Fruit-trees, 



Fruit-trees of all kinds may be planted any time of 

 this month, with fuccefs ; but the fooner in the month 

 the better. 



The trees which are planted now will take root in a 

 ihort time j and, with the afliilance of a little water in 

 dry weather, they will fhoot freely. 



In planting fruit-trees, either for walls, efpaliers, or 

 ftandards, obferve to plant each kind at the diftances 

 mentioned in the former month, and in October, &c. 



For the proper foil and fituation for the feveral kinds of 

 fruit, fee the work of Qdiober and Novemier, 



The method of planting is to open a wide hole for 

 every tree, and, when it is opened to the depth- you 

 intend it, loofen the bottom well. Then prune the roots 

 of the tree ; that is, cut off bruifed or broken roots, 

 and trim the ends a little of all the very long ftraggling 

 roots in general. This being done, place the tree in the 

 hole ; then break the earth well, and throw it in equally 

 about the roots ; and when all is in, tread the furface 

 gently round the tree. 



New planted fruit-trees Ihould be well fecured from the 

 vi:)lence of the wind; if they are tali Handards, let them be 



fupportcd 



