378 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Mar. 



gTound, where it is practicable, draw some of the mould round 

 the stem of the stock, so as to cover the ball of clay ; it will be 

 of much benefit to the taking and growing of the scions. 



To the amateur who objects to the use of clay, the following 

 composition, recommended by Mr. Powell, may be considered 

 as an excellent succedaneum. Take one pound of pitch, one 

 pound of resin, half a pound of bees'-wax, one quarter of a 

 pound of hogs'-lard, a quarter of a pound of turpentine, 

 melted and mixed well together. This composition is kept 

 in a fluid state, by putting it in an earthen pan over boiling 

 v/ater; with a brush it is then spread evenly on sheets of 

 moderately thin brown paper, which, when cold, is cut into 

 slips about three-quarters of an inch w^ide. The scion being 

 fitted to the stock, take one of these slips, warm it by breath- 

 ing on it, and bind it round the graft, when it will be found 

 to serve the purpose both of matting and claying. 



WATERING AND PROTECTING NEWLY-PLANTED TREES. 



All fruit-trees planted in autumn, or early in the spring, 

 should be protected from the effects of high wdnds, by being 

 properly staked up, as already directed, and also occasionally 

 watered, which will be of much importance to their breaking 

 strong and taking properly to the soil. 



DIGGING THE FRUIT-TREE BORDERS. 



Dig the fruit-tree borders : this will be serviceable to the 

 trees, and destroy weeds ; and the borders will appear neat, 

 and be ready for sowing or planting with crops of small 

 growth, or such as will not much exhaust the soil. 



Hoe the surface of such fruit-tree borders as were dug in 

 the foregoing months, and are not sown with crops ; such as 

 radishes, spinach, lettuce, &c. 



PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 



This is a good season for making new plantations of this 

 valuable and excellent fruit. Tn preparing the ground for 



