OF FOREST-TREES. 



49 



plant two ; and if thus the new earth be somewhat lower than the CHAP. ii. 

 surface of the rest, it will the better receive the rain. Being planted, ^^^V"^ 

 cut them all within three inches of the ground. Water them not in 

 winter but in extreme necessity, and when the weather is warm, and then 

 do it in the morning. In this cold season, you will do well to cover the 

 ground with the leaves of trees, straw, or short litter, to keep them 

 warm ; and every year you should give them three dressings or half- 

 diggings, viz. in April, June, and August; this, for the fii'st year, 

 still after rain. The second spring, after transplanting, purge them 

 of all superfluous shoots and cions, reserving only the most towardly for 

 the future stem : this to be done yearly as long as they continue in the 

 nursery ; and if, of the principal stem so left, the frost mortify any part, 

 cut it off, and continue this government till they are near six feet high ; 

 after which, suffer them to spread into heads, by discreetly pruning and 

 fashioning them : but if you plant where cattle may endanger them, the 

 stem had need be taller, for they are extremely liquorish of the leaves. 



4. When they are about five years' growth, you may transplant them 



round the tree, and about four feet from the bole. Let this trench be filled with fresh 

 mould, enriched with cow-dung; and as the large roots may be raised without incon- 

 venience, let the compost be put under them so as to make the bed, over which the tree 

 stands, as rich as possible. At the same time, let the old wood be cut from the head of the 

 tree, in order that the young wood may have space to grow in. These operations being 

 judiciously conducted, you will, in a few years, have an old tree converted into a young 

 one. Let it also be observed that, if you expect plenty of fruit, you must never permit the 

 ground to be cropped near the tree, fqr by the spade, the feeding fibres of the roots will 

 be cut off at the time when the fruit requires the utmost nourishment. 



The Mulberry is remarkable for putting out its leaves late, so that when they appear^ 

 the gardener may take it for granted, that all danger from frosts is over ; he may then 

 expose his greenhouse plants. Cum germinare videris morum, injuriam postea Jrigoris timere 

 nplito.^PhiN. 



Ovid, on account of the blood-red appearance of its fruit, has chosen the Mulberry-tree 

 for the scene of his affecting story of Pyramus and Thisbe j and, indeed, no other tree could 

 have given so much assistance to the imagination of the poet, Horace advises us to finish 

 our dinner with ripe M'olberries : 



■ ■ Ille salubres 



iEstates peraget, qui nigris prandia Moris 

 Finiet, ante gravem quse legerit arbore solera. 



