184 FRUIT CULTURE. 



shrubs in shaded frames, in the months of July 

 and August, the surface soil being pure fine 

 sand, as a guard against damping. Such cold 

 frames require to be opened and closed, in order 

 to maintain an even temperature, and also a 

 careful supply of water, as needed. But for 

 fruits, ripened wood is preferable. Still it is 

 better to take this wood before it becomes too 

 hard, and especially before it is dried by the 

 frosts. Cuttings taken in early September and 

 buried in a horizontal position in a warm and 

 moderately moist soil will be rooted at the end 

 of autumn. But the objection is that the tops 

 will also start and perish upon exposure. The 

 safest course is to take the cuttings about the 

 time of the first sharp frosts and heel them in, 

 very thickly, in beds of light, sandy loam, using 

 only enough soil to separate the cuttings. The 

 beds may be three feet wide and as long as is 

 needed. A bed six feet long would hold many 

 thousand cuttings. The tops should remain ex- 

 posed to the frosts, and as the earth is warmer 

 than the air during the fall months, considera- 

 ble progress in callousing will be obtained, and 

 at the same time the tops will be kept dormant. 

 Just before the ground closes the bed should be 

 rounded up with earth, covering the tops en- 

 tirely. Shutters may then be placed over the 



