52 THE FLORIST AND 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



FRUIT. 



Planting Trees. — This subject has been alluded to in previous 

 calendars, where the relative merits of fall and spring planting 

 were discussed. Those who prefer planting in spring will be 

 making preparations, and it is well to have every thing in readiness 

 before ordering them from the nursery, that no delay may occur in 

 getting them set out when they come to hand. The shorter time 

 that elapses between removal and planting the better. Should they 

 unavoidably be so long out of the ground that the roots and smaller 

 branches appear shrivelled, they may still be brought round by 

 careful management. The common remedy for all unhealthy indi- 

 cations in a newly planted tree is copious waterings at the roots. It 

 is, however, quite an erroneous one, and if persevered in, will in 

 most cases prove fatal. The branches should be kept moist, and 

 the roots comparatively dry. We have seen trees that were quite 

 shrivelled and dried up, completely recovered by laying them on 

 the ground, covering the roots with soil, and enveloping the branches 

 i i wet straw. There is plenty of water in the soil at this season 

 for vegetation, without any artificial applications. It will be of 

 more advantage to raise a small mound of earth over the roots, to 

 throw off heavy spring rains, to be afterwards levelled down, and its 

 place supplied with a mulching of some description, to retain moist- 

 ure in dry weather. 



Pruning. — It has been recommended to "shorten in" the young 

 branches of peach trees in early spring. We cannot altogether en- 

 dorse the practice, as it creates a tendency to over luxuriant growths 

 and unfruitful shoots, but where summer pruning was neglected it 

 will be necessary to a certain extent. Experience proves that on 

 established fruit bearing trees, judicious summer pruning answers 

 every purpose for which pruning is intended. All stone fruit trees 

 are impatient of much cutting with the knife, inducing as it does 

 canker, gummy excretions, &c. Cutting away the immature points 

 of shoots may be necessary in a less propitious climate, but there is 

 no occasion for such treatment here. When large branches require 

 to be thinned out. it can be done most advantageously when the 



