GKAFTING STONE FRUITS. 141 



weight of fruit, etc. ; cut away all the decayed limbs, or those tending 

 thereto. The removal of large limbs does not hurt the tree so much 

 as to leave decayed ones on. Always make your opening on the 

 northeast side. This lets the sun in in the morning when the dew is 

 on and the sun gives little heat. The southwest side should be kept 

 thick and strong. The top should be thinned in accord with the nat- 

 ural habits and growth. For instance, Dominie thicken enough ; the 

 Willow too much. Where the top thickens too much, cut longer 

 branches ; if too little, trim more, as you would a hedge. 



Manuring is all right on thin, poor soil ; on better soil no manure 

 is needed until in heavy fruiting. No manure should be put close to 

 the tree in any case, as it induces the bark to crack in winter. A good 

 pile of soil is the best mulch for summer or winter. 



Motto No. 1 . — A basin for the sun and rain, until there has been 

 a pretty heavy rain ; then fill to the surface. 



Motto No. 2— 



He that fails to cut big limbs 

 When into his orchard he goes and trims, 

 Whether he tops them low or tops them high, 

 Be sure that orchard is soon to die. 



With kind regards, your friend, 



Jonathan I. Southwick. 



GEAFTING STONE FKUITS. 



BY GEO. W. STURTZ. 



The cions should be cut when the wood is not frozen, and packed 

 in the cellar in dry forest leaves. 



In root-grafting the cherry use the Mazzard stock with long cion 

 (about six inches) and plant deep to prevent winter killing until roots 

 have emitted from the cion. Imported roots are preferable, because 

 those grown in our climate lack root starch on account of the common 

 leaf mildew. Graft at the crown, using the side-graft. Make the 

 wedge on the cion a little thicker on the outside where it joins the 

 cambium layer of the stock. Be careful not to make the wedge so 

 thin on the inside that it will not rest on the wood of the inside of 



