THE FRUIT GARDEN 



369 



the branches thin, and the middle open, so as to admit the 

 sun and air freely ; by which means the fruit will be large and 

 well tasted. Observe the rules laid down in January. 



Dig the ground between the gooseberry and currant-trees, if 

 not done in the two former months, which, as they arc just 

 advancing in bud, will be of great service, in promoting the 

 gi'owth of large good fruit. 



Finish planting gooseberry and currant-trees, as early in the 

 month as convenient. See January^ February, &c. 



PLANTING AND rROPAGATING FIG-TREES. 



This is a proper season to plant fig-trees, as those which 

 are planted at this time are found to succeed better than if 

 planted at any other period of the year. This tree is readily 

 })ropagated either by cuttings or layers, and in either state can 

 be procured in the public nurseries in pots, where they are 

 grown until they have attained a proper size and age for plant- 

 ing. Let them be carefully turned out of the pots without 

 disturbing the ball, and planted in any good garden-mould, 

 observing to give them plenty of water as soon as planted. If 

 planted against a wall, the shoots should be immediately nailed 

 in, to prevent their being broken, to which, from their brittle 

 nature, they are very liable. Cover the surface round their 

 stems with rotten dung, or littery matter, to exclude the spring 

 droughts, as directed above for other fruit-trees. Figs may 

 now also be propagated either by cuttings of the shoots, or 

 by laying their lower branches in pots sunk in the ground for 

 that purpose. They will, during summer, if rnoderately sup- 

 plied with water, strike root, and be by next spring fit for 

 planting out if wanted; and if left for another season, be in a 

 good sUite, either for that purpose or for potting in large pots 

 for forcing. 



PRUNING AND PLANTING RASPBERRIES. 



Prune raspberries, observing to cut out all the dead wood ; 

 and where the live shoots, which were produced last summer, 

 and which are the bearing wood of this year, stand too thick, 



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