54 



FRUIT GARDEN COMPANION. 



as to cut asunder the tap roots of the plants ; pro- 

 ceed to manage the other side in the same manner. 

 By cutting asunder the taproots, the plants immedi- 

 ately form side or lateral roots near the surface, 

 with fibres. The luxuriant shoot that would be made 

 if the tap root were allowed to remain is retarded, 

 and the stock swells in bulk at the base according 

 as the branching roots are formed, and in the follow- 

 ing spring hy this method a plant is obtained having 

 plenty of fibrous roots and a stout stem. 



The young plants that are taken from the seedling 

 bed may be planted thickly in a row in a rich soil 

 to form themselves into good plants for transplanting 

 the ensuing spring. 



Art. 2. — On the Management of Cuttings. 



Great care should be taken of cuttings in the 

 Nursery, as grape, gooseberry, &c. ; they should 

 be kept perfectly clear of weeds, that they may 

 not overgrow and impoverish them ; this can be 

 effected by hoeing, raking and dressing the ground. 

 Care should also be taken that the earth is not too 

 loose about them, so as to let the drought into them, 

 which would deter their taking root ; if the weather 

 proves very dry about the time they begin to grow, 

 and water is convenient, the rooting will be much 

 facilitated, by giving them a good watering two or 

 three times early in the spring. Or it is a good 

 method to melch over the ground between the rows 

 with short litter, or if moss can be obtained, it will 

 answer an excellent purpose to help to retain the 

 moisture. If neither of these can be obtained, the 

 ground should often be hoed between the rows, in 



