212 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [MAR. 



cially if the season be forward, and if the plants be 

 in a state of vegetation. In cold situations, and in 

 humid soils, trees may succeed very well if planted 

 any time in the month ; but in better situations and 

 light soils, the work should be expedited as early as 

 possible. See full directions on this subject in Ja- 

 nuary and February. 



Of pruning Fruit-Trees. 



These trees may also still be pruned, but the soon- 

 er now the better ; particularly apricots, cherries, 

 figs, plums, and the early kind of pears, now proba- 

 bly fast coming into flower. Orchard-trees, and 

 standards of all kinds may also now be pruned, if 

 not done in the former months. But when it is ne- 

 cessary to wash or anoint the branches of any kind 

 of fruit-tree, the priming should not be delayed 

 past the first week in the month, otherwise the buds 

 are liable to be hurt, or to be rubbed off in the ope- 

 ration. See full directions on both these subjects 

 in January. 



Of heading down new planted Fruit-Trees. 

 Maiden trees that have been planted just now, or 

 any time since October, should, about the end of the 

 month, be headed down / that is, shortened back to 

 a few buds, or a few inches, in the following man- 

 ner : Trees that are intended to be trained horizon- 

 tally, and have but one shoot or stem from the graft, 

 should be headed down to four or five buds, out of 

 which, if three spring, it is sufficient ; one to be 

 trained upright, and one on each side, horizontally. 



