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host's family kitchen gardener. 



for the convenience of inserting the buds. Early in the en 

 suing Spring, the stocks on which those buds are that have 

 taken, should be headed down to within two inches of the bud, 

 which will then grow rapidly, and must be tied in an upright 

 form to the portion of the stock left above the eye for that 

 purpose. When it has made a good growth, and during the 

 month of July or August, the stock should be cut off close 

 to the shoot by a sloping back cut. when it will soon be cov- 

 ered with the growth of the wood. Those stocks that have not 

 taken, should be grafted as soon in the Spring as that opera- 

 tion can be performed. 



Preparation of Scions. — These are usually selected from 

 the young wood of the previous season's growth, as well as 

 those of one or even two years : though the former is to be 

 preferred, and should be taken from the outside branches that 

 have been fully exposed to the sun and air. They should be 

 cut from the parent tree, any time from J anuary to the period 

 of growth. When they are collected, label each sort correctly, 

 and place them in the ground, covered to within an inch of 

 their tops, till the season of grafting arrives, which is just be- 

 fore the buds open to growth. Cut the scions into lengths of 

 from three to five eyes : and where there is an abundance, use 

 •the middle portion of the shoot only. 



Planting. — This season extends from the first of November 

 till the swelling of the buds in Spring. Autumnal planting 

 is to be preferred in light, dry soils : and Spring planting in 

 retentive and heavy soils. Any time during the "Winter sea- 

 son will do, when neither frost nor snow prevents the opera- 

 tion : but do not at any time expose the roots of trees in 

 frosty, dry, windy weather : and in lifting trees, always retain 

 as many of the fibres as practicable, and cut off neatly all that 

 are bruised : with these precautions, trees from five to fifteen 

 years old may be safely removed. We have seen entire or- 



