38 FRUn GARDEN. 



to the parching rays of the sun and withering action 

 of the wind. Great care ought to be taken to prevent 

 the young plants from becoming stunted. In pruning, 

 the small twigs in the interior should be removed, so 

 as to relieve the tree from the bushy appearance which 

 it is apt to assume. It has been recommended to 

 transfer cions and buds of promising individuals into 

 other trees in a bearing state. This is peculiarly ad- 

 vantageous with respect to the peach and other stone 

 fruits, as it both hastens the period of puberty, and 

 economizes the space which must be occupied, especially 

 where these are on a wall. 



Propagation hy Cuttings. — Gooseberries, currants, 

 figs, vines, and some others, are increased by means of 

 cuttings. An annuai ^hoot is taken oJBf along with a 

 thin slice, or Jieel, as it is called, of the former year's 

 wood, which is found to facilitate the production of 

 roots. The cuttings are placed firmly in the soil, at 

 various depths, according to their length, the buds or 

 eyes which would thus come beneath the surface having 

 been previously removed. Vines are sometimes pro- 

 pagated from small pieces of shoots having a single 

 bud; when they have, to be transmitted to a distance, 

 an inch in length may suffice. Most of the. codlin 

 apples may be increased by cuttings ; and even large 

 branches of those which produce burs may be planted 

 at once, with success. In all deciduous trees the ope- 

 ration is most advantageously performed in winter. 



Propagation by Layers. — This is not much resorted 

 to in the fruit garden. It is occasionally employed as 

 the means of dwarfing trees. "Laying," say^ Pro- 

 fessor Lindley, " is nothing but striking^ from cuttings 

 which are still allowed to maintain their connection 



