n FRUITS, FLOWERS AND SHRUBS. 



STANDARD FRUIT TREES. 



Cut away branches that are dead, irregular, or su- 

 perfluous ; clear the trees of moss. 



This is a good time for pruning apple, pear, plumb, 

 and cherry trees. Most of the apple-trees in many 

 orchards are crowded mth branches, which, were 

 they thinned to fine, open regular heads, would pro- 

 duce much larger fruit and bear more regularly eve- 

 ry 3' ear. All branches that grow too close to each 

 other, should be thinned out entirely. It is scarcely 

 ever necessary to shorten an}'' branches of the above 

 kind of standard trees after their heads are formed^, 

 which should be particularly attended to when,. the 

 trees are young. Three or four branches should be 

 allowed to be produced from the main stem, at the 

 height of five or six feet from the ground; and as 

 these advance, others should be allowed to proceed 

 from them at regular distances. Should the main 

 shoot of any of these branches, or the main stern it- 

 self not produce side shoots at the places wanted, they 

 may be cut at such places only* Whenever any of 

 the m^in branches of old trees begin to decay, they 

 should be cut off near to where the head of the tree 

 is formed. Should she whole head fail, 1 would ad- 

 vise to cut one or two main branches only in one year. 

 TREES LATELY PLANTED. 



Trees lately planted must be supported with stakes, 

 to which tie the trees with ropes of hay or straw, wrap- 

 ping some hay round the trees, that the bark may not 

 be injured by the friction of the ropes ; lay Uttle 

 round the stems of the trees as far or farther than the 

 roots extend, to protect them from frost. 



PROPAGATION BY SUCKERS. 



Take suckers with roots to them, from roses, lilacs, 

 ^nd other hardy shrubs, plant them in rows eighteen 

 or twenty inches apart, if the weather should prove 

 Biild, otherwise it will be better to defer till March. 



