46 FRUIT GARDEX. 



r, which is the reverse of s. The bark on each side of 

 the perpendicular slit being cautiously opened with the 

 handle of the knife, the bud and shield are inserted, as 

 at t. The upper tip of the shield is cut oflf horizontally, 

 and brought neatly to fit the bark of the stock at the 

 transverse incision. Slight ties of moist bast-matting 

 are then applied. In about a month or six weeks the 

 ligatures may be taken away, when, if the operation 

 have been successful, the bud will be fresh and full, and 

 the shield firmly united to the wood. Next spring a 

 strong shoot is thrown out, and to this the stock is 

 headed down in the course of the summer. 

 - Planting. — After propagation, the next care is to 

 transfer the young trees to those places, whether in the 

 open border or against the wall, where they are to re- 

 main ; and it is of importance that these situations 

 should be considerately selected; adapting the trees, ac- 

 cording to th,eir character and qualities, to sites suit- 

 able in respect of ^oil, shelter, and aspect. Planting 

 ma.y be performed at any time in the beginning of win- 

 ter, or in the early spring months ; but it is considered 

 that the most advantageous seasons are iinmediately 

 after the fall of the leaf in autumn, and before the as- 

 cent of the sap in spring. The trees should be cau- 

 tiously lifted from the nursery lines, carefully guarding 

 against the. 'mutilation or bruising of the roots; andy 

 to prevent the desiccation of the fibres, they should be 

 planted as soon as possible after being lifted. When 

 they have to be carried to a distance, the roots should 

 be enveloped in damp hypnum-moss. In the ground, 

 which. is presumed to have been previously trenched or 

 otherwise prepared, pits or holes are formed, and the 



