Mar.] 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



363 



MARCH. 



PLANTING WALL, ESPALIER, AND STANDARD FRUIT-TREES. 



Sucli of these trees as have not been planted, either in au- 

 tumn or the two preceding months, should now be planted 

 without delay, especially if it be a forward season, and before 

 the trees are too far gone in vegetation. In all soils, this is a 

 proper season to plant ; directions for which, see the two last 

 months. 



HEADING DOWN OR RENEWING OLD FRUIT-TREES. 



When trees become stinted and diseased, either by old age, 

 bad soils, or unskilful management, they should now be headed 

 down, or otherwise renovated, of else cleared out and young 

 ones planted in their stead. Most trees may be renewed by 

 heading down, which is the simplest mode, and one that is the 

 most often adopted ; indeed all trees, excepting the peach and 

 nectarine will be much improved by being headed down, on 

 their showing symptoms of decay or disease. In performing 

 this operation, the whole of the head or branches of the tree 

 should be cut off in a careful manner with a saw, if their 

 branches be large ; and with a pruning chisel, if less strong ; 

 or with a knife, if not of large dimensions ; observing, in using 

 the saw, to smoothen the wound over with a sharp knife, and 

 to make the cut in a sloping direction, for the purpose of 

 allowing the water to pass freely off; and after the operation 

 is finished, paint the wound over with any mild paint, to resist 

 all possibility of moisture lodging in the wound. In heading 

 down, cut all the ramifications of the tree off a few inches 

 above the graft or bud ; and if it be thought necessary, from 

 their exhausted state, let them also be carefully taken up, un- 

 less very old ; their roots examined, and all diseased or bruised 

 roots shortened or removed ; at the same time replant them in 

 either fresh mould brought from the compost-yard, or, if the 



