136 



THE NUBSEKY. 



begin to swell (say in March here); pears and apples 

 may be done later. The second sized stocks, planted lasi 

 season, and intended to be budded this, should, if in a 

 feebly growing or stunted condition, be cut back to within 

 two or three inches of the surface of the ground. This 

 will give the roots new vigor, and thrifty shoots will be 

 made by budding time that will work more easily and 

 successfully than the old stock. In a month or so after 

 being cut down, all the shoots but the strongest one should 

 be removed. The stocks budded last season are headed 

 down to within three or four inches of the bud, just as the 

 leaves are beginning to appear, and all buds starting into 

 growth on the stock, either below or above them, rubbed 

 off. 



Treatment of tlie growing Iwd consists in keeping all 

 shoots that appear on the stock rubbed off. 

 If side shoots appear early, and are likely 

 to contract the growth of the leader, they 

 should be pinched off. Any that assume a 

 reclining or crooked habit should be tied up 

 to the stock, or to a support, which may be 

 a wooden pole four feet long, sunk a foot in 

 the ground at the root of the stock ; both 

 the stock and growing shoot should be fast- 

 ened to it (fig. 87), but not so close as tc 

 impede the growth. This is only necessary 

 with certain weak, irregular growing sorts. 

 In August the portion of the stock left 

 above the bud at the 1 eading down in the 

 Jjj spring should be removed with a sloping 

 son's growth, sup- Cu t 5 close and smooth, as at A (fig. 87), at the 

 T r e e nne y at ^ in- highest point of union between the bud and 

 dicates the cutting S t ck. The new layers of wood made after 



away of the stock .-,.,. ,-, -, -, /> -. 



close to the bud. this time covers the wound before gro\vth 

 ceases in the fall. Side shoots, when they appear, must 



