312 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



pears for standards, and, when finished, pack them away 

 in moist sand or saw dust until spring planting-time ; do 

 mulching that has not been done earlier. Think over 

 and mature your spring plans. 



FEBRUARY. 



Do now anything you should have done in January, 

 as everything is still dormant. Examine, all trees for 

 caterpillar nests, and cut them all off and burn them, 

 and rub off all suspicious spots on the branches of the 

 trees. You may top-dress orchards now if you don't 

 intend to break them up in the spring. Use the rules 

 directed for fertilizing. Make labels, stakes, ladders, 

 crates, boxes, etc. 



MARCH. 



Use tree washes. Finish all February work incom- 

 pleted. Sow clover in your orchard if you propose to do 

 it this spring. Graft the apple, the cherry, the pear. 

 Shorten back trees, now or early in April. Cut back your 

 young trees planted the previous autumn, and prune 

 them ready for their first year's orchard growth. Plough 

 fruit orchards if ground is fit. 



APRIL. 



Use tree washes. Plant all trees, and get at it by the 

 tenth of the month sure, if possible. Set out all cuttings. 

 Plant all fruit tree seeds, if they are to be transplanted 



