QUARTERING STOCKS FOR GRAFTING. 5 



the small fibres are very apt to rot, and the 

 large roots get in a mildewed stagnant state, 

 which I have proved has been so far injurious 

 to the plants, that it often takes them the fol- 

 lowing summer to recover themselves, while 

 those planted in February will make a good 

 growth. 



If your ground is very poor it will be neces- 

 sary to give it plenty of good rotten manure, 

 to make them throw up standards quick. 



The distance for quartering out the stocks 

 for grafting should be two feet six inches row 

 from row, and about ten inches apart in the 

 rows. Some will give two feet ten inches, or 

 three feet row from row, but that I think un- 

 necessary, as two feet six inches is quite suf- 

 ficient to get between them for all purposes, 

 and quite room enough for them to grow so 

 long as they ought to remain in the nursery. 



When you plant your stocks you should 

 prune the roots, cutting the strong roots 

 shorter, and take away as many of the super- 

 fluous fibres as you can ; trim up the stock 

 clean at the bottom, but be sure to leave buds 

 to break from the top, then cut off the top, 

 leaving the stock long enough to be about six- 



