28 



olds. In all cases where staking is absolutely necessary, 

 as in large transplants that have already been cut back in 

 the nursery to form leaders, it is much the best plan to put 

 in two stakes 14 to 15 inches distance from the tree, and 

 tie it to a crossbar fastened horizontally from one to the 

 other. But no experienced person would choose stuff of 

 this sort, It is the beginner who buys his trees big. Year- 

 lings have mostly at the end of one season got such firm 

 hold of the ground with their roots that they have no need 

 of artificial support, and are every way preferable. 



29. As soon as the row of trees is in place, the planter, in 

 accordance with his pre-arranged plan of future proceed- 

 ings, shortens back every graftling to the definite height 

 suited to its kind. Some cut back knee high, others allow 

 a little more height. In every case the level must be as 

 nearly as possible the same, and the section must be made 

 aslant, just above a bud, neither cramping it in nor 

 leaving a peg of wood above it. If the cut slopes back 

 too close behind the bud, leaving it as it were a projection 

 on the upper end of the oval section, there will not be sap 

 enough left to nourish it. Should a good inch or more 

 project above it, that piece will assuredly dry up and die, 

 probably bringing decay into the tissues of the stem below. 

 It is difficult to get amateurs to see the necessity for this 

 shortening back to a given height. It seems to be a 

 wanton throwing away of so much good stem-growth, and 

 they are apt to let the young trees run up like fishing-rods, 

 unconscious of the covert derision with which the skilled 

 gardener surveys their forest of sticks. It will presently be 

 quite clear why yearling trees were previously recommended, 

 and why shortening back is laid down as a necessity of 

 the case. 



30. And when this operation of cutting back is in hand, 

 remember that you are dealing with tender young stuff, 

 which has not yet formed a hard wood-cylinder within, or 

 a corky bark without. On no account be tempted to use 

 the convenient and rapid secateur. However cleverly 

 made, with crescent-blades and a rolling pivot, the cut is 

 never so clean and satisfactory as that of the ordinary 

 pruning-knife fresh from the oilstone. The tender bark is 



