63 



Strongly on to each corner of the lower drawer, so that the other 

 three drawers slip inside of the posts. The posts are then cut off 

 just even with the top of the cover. The cover is made of half 

 inch stuff, fastened together by two pieces, one inch by two and 

 one-half inches. These pieces fit over the top of the posts, coming 

 just to the outside, and are fastened on one side with light hinges, 

 and on the other by light pieces of hoop-iron six inches long, which 

 are nailed on top of the top pieces and bent over and fastened to 

 the posts with screws. The engraving herewith will show at a 

 glance how they are made. 



GREEN MANURES. 



Poor land, or that that is covered with fine weeds, briars, &c, can easily be brought 

 up to the best condition for fruits by sowing early in the spring, broadcast, com, peas, 

 or buckwheat, and as soon as it gets li to 2 feet high, plow undei and sow again. 

 Thus two crops can be grown and plowed under one season, leaving the land in splen- 

 did friable condition, for planting the following spring. 



It exhibits a chemical action upon stiff, harsh soils, disintegrating and rendering 

 them finer and more easily worked. We have often plowed under old bearing plahta- 

 *ions, that had nearly run out, and immediately after doing so, sow buckwheat broad- 

 cast, and when in blow plow under, and the next spring set this place out to fruit 

 again, and obtained very heavy and profitable crops. 



PROPAGATION BY ROOT CUTTINGS. 



The Roots may be taken from the ground as soon as the leaves have fallen and the 

 plant has ceased growing_ for the season. Cut them in pieces from two to three inches 

 in length ; those varieties which naturally produce suckers from the roots more 

 abundantly will allow of the shortest division of the roots. If the cuttings are 

 obtained or received before the ground is clear of frost, and suitable for planting in 

 the Spring — pack them in layers of moist sand in a cellar or the ground, secure from 

 intense freezing; this enables the callousing or bark healing process— (a cellular 

 growth or cambium or healing of the inner bark) to be effected, which precedes the 

 formation of the younger roots, for if the cutting does not callous or heal, it decays 

 and dies. If received after freezing weather is past, pack as before in a warm situa- 

 tion in open air in a heap layered with plenty of sand, shaded by boards or litter, to 

 prevent drying, (by no means let them get dry)— in about two weeks they will callous 

 and buds begin to be visible, more or less on the surface ; from this they (the Black- 

 berry particularly) may be planted direct in garden or field, in well prepared ground 

 in shallow drills, or furrows, eight or ten inches apart in the drill, and in field culture 

 the drills three feet or more apart ; cover about three inches deep with fine earth, if 

 the ground is not already rich use mild fertilizers in the rows ; avoid using long or 

 unf ermented manure in contact with the cutting, but apply on the surface as a mulch ; 

 it is important after planting that the ground does not get hard and dry ; give good 

 culture through the season, and fine plants may be confidently expected. 



Some kinds of raspberry develop root buds very slowly with ordinary care, and are 

 not adapted to out-door planting at once, but require a little forcing ; where a propa- 



Eatine house is not available, an ordinary hot-bed may be used, and a slight under 

 eat bv forest leaves and stable manure well mixed, packed smooth about four inches 

 deeD in the bottom, cover this with fine earth one inch deep, place on the cuttings, sift 

 on clean white sand till covered evenly one and a half mches deep. White sand radi- 

 ates and transmits the sun-heat more evenly, and preserves a more constant tempera- 

 ture and moisture Keep moderately moist all the time, and the sashes over them, 

 and a moderate ventilation, particularly while the sun is sWning. Wheil the young 

 Dlants are sufficiently grown transplant them in moist weather into the-field or nursery 



r °This course, with care, produces excellent plants for sale, or future propagation. 



FRUIT ON SIDE HILLS. 



•' Tf verv steep we should use such for blackberries, raspberries, currants, and 

 sebernes or grapes, choosing the most level places for strawberries, for being 



