GARDENING. HI 



these lie near to the surface, it would be advisable to 

 dig with a fork, instead of the spade. 



Crop to within two feet of the trees the first year: a 

 yard the second; four feet the third, and so on, until 

 finally relinquished; which, of course, would be against 

 the eighth year, provided the trees were planted at 30 

 or 40 feet apart, with early bearing sorts between. Br 

 this time, if the kinds have been well chosen, the tem- 

 porary trees will be in full bearing, and will forthwith 

 defray every necessary expense. 



TO PRUNE TREES. '■^ 



Very few persons seem to be aware of the importance 

 of giving proper form to the young tree, or mending or 

 improving its shape, at a later period. In the peach it 

 is ruinous, sooner or later, to encourage two or more 

 leading and principal branches, from the main stem; let 

 them grow ever so straight and upright, they constantly 

 recede by the pressure of repellant branches, and by 

 the weight of fruit; until, after having nursed them to 

 maturity, on the first windy day, you have the mortifica- 

 tion to find it split at the crotch, and one or both 

 branches ruined, perhaps at the moment of the ripen- 

 ing of the fruit. 



The peach is peculiarly liable to this misfortune, as 

 the seam at the crotch adheres with less tenacity than 

 any other tree cultivated. 



The same doctrine holds good with the plum and 

 nectarine, but with less force, and in fact, there is but 

 one shape that is to be tolerated, with trees that are 

 allowed their full growtb, and not restrained, or trained 

 in any way; and that form is a straight centre stem, 

 from the root to the terminate bud, with branches al- 

 ternately projecting at judicious distances, both around 

 the circumference, and the whole line of ascent, allow- 

 ing no one to gain the advantage of another in excess, 

 but by proper retarding cr encouragement, so to man- 

 age, as they shall present a cone, beautiful in sbape, 

 and strong to resist the wind, rains, and heavy weights 

 of foliage and fruit. 



