8o THE TREE BOOK 



trenches, with their roots covered with soil. 

 Here they remain, until the leaves "sweat off." 

 Then they are taken up, sorted as to size, and 

 the roots and tops are cut back. Next they are 

 stored away for the winter, with their roots in 

 damp sawdust. In many sections, these little 

 trees are raised and prepared for large nursery- 

 men, who prefer to buy such stock ratber than 

 to bother with raising it. 



In the spring, the seedlings are set out about 

 one foot apart in rows, and carefully cultivated 

 as before. Soon they begin to put out side 

 branches, the roots thicken and multiply, and by 

 August the little trees are about three-eighths 

 of an inch at the base of the stem. Now they 

 are ready to bud. The leaves and buds are re- 

 moved for a few inches above the base of the 

 stock all down along the rows. Then the bud 

 sticks are made ready. "Suppose it is desired 

 to make one row of the little seedlings into Yel- 

 low Transparents, another into Eome Beauties, 

 another into Stamen Winesaps, and still an- 

 other into Black Twigs. Bud sticks must be 

 cut from trees of these varieties. These bud 

 sticks are leafy twigs bearing ten or a. dozen 

 well-grown buds. The terminal buds are too 

 soft to use. These are clipped off; so, too, are 



