March.] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 0^7 



out, that there may be sufficient room to train the bearing shoots 

 regularly and at proper distances. 



In cutting out useless large branches, either too long extended, 

 or unfurnished with bearing wood, &c, let them be cut oft" close to 

 the places from whence they proceed, to some convenient lower 

 young shoots or branches, leaving no stumps. 



The young branches of Jig-trees must not be shortened or topped, 

 but leave each at full length; for if they were, it would not only 

 cut away the part where fruit would have appeared, but also occa- 

 sion them to run much to wood, and thereby never produce half a 

 crop; so only cut off casual dead ends. 



The tree being pruned, let the general branches and bearers be 

 directly trained in and nailed to the wall or fence, or made fast to 

 the espalier in regular order, extending them horizontally, at equal 

 distances, six or seven inches from each other. 



Planting and propagating Fig- Trees. 



Plant fig-trees where wanted, this being rather the best month 

 in the year for removing them; they will now take root in a very 

 short time. 



In planting figs, you may either procure trained young trees that 

 are arrived to a bearing state, and plant them at fifteen or twenty 

 feet distance, or as they are propagated in general, either by the 

 suckers which arise from the roots of the old trees, or by layers, or 

 cuttings, young plants of these may be planted at once where they 

 are to remain, that they may establish their roots more effectually 

 without being disturbed by removal: therefore in default of trained 

 trees, some good plants or suckers of moderate growth, and such as 

 are firm and well ripened, may be procured and planted at once 

 where they are to remain; and others may be planted in the nurse- 

 ry, for training a few years. 



To raise them by layers, select young branches of one or two 

 years growth, laying them in the earth four or five inches deep, 

 with the tops as erect as possible; they will be well rooted by next 

 spring, when they should be separated from the old tree and plant- 

 ed either in the nursery or where they are to remain. 



To propagate them by cuttings, make choice of the ripest and 

 most perfect of the last year's shoots, from twelve to fifteen inches 

 in length, cutting them off With an inch or two of the two years old 

 wood at their base, leaving the tops entire and uncut. Plant these 

 cuttings six or eight inches deep, in good soil, and in rows two feet 

 and a half asunder, and a foot distant from one another in the rows; 

 here they may remain for two years when they will be in a fine 

 condition for planting where wanted. 



They may also be propagated by sowing the seed in long narrow 

 boxes the beginning of this month, placing them in a hot-bed to 

 forward their growth; and about the middle of May, remove these 

 boxes into the shade where they can have the morning sun till ten 

 o'clock, and the afternoon sun From four; giving them water when 

 necessary, and protecting them the winter following from frost, 



