March.] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 217 
out, that there may be sufficient room to train the bearing shoots 
regularly and at proper distances. 
In cutting out useless large branches, either too long extended, 
or unfurnished with bearing wood, &c., let them be cut oft' close to 
the places from whence they proceed, to some convenient lower 
young shoots or branches, leaving no stumps. 
The young branches of fig-trees must not he shortened or topped, 
but leave each at full length; for if they were, it would not only 
cut away the part where fruit would have appeared, but also occa- 
sion them to run much to wood, and thereby never produce half a 
crop; so only cut oft' casual dead ends. 
The tree being pruned, let the general branches and bearers be 
directly trained in and nailed to the wall or fence, or made fast to 
the espalier in regular order, extending them horizontally, at equal 
distances, six or seven inches from each other. 
Planting and propagating Fig- Trees. 
Plant fiff-trees where wanted, this beino; rather the best month 
in the year for removing them; they will now take root in a very 
short time. 
In planting figs, you may either procure trained young trees that 
are arrived to a bearing state, and plant them at fifteen or twenty 
feet distance, or as they are propagated in general, either by the 
suckers which arise from the roots of the old trees, or by layers, or 
cuttings, young plants of these may be planted at once where they 
are to remain, that they may establish their roots more eff"ectually 
without being disturbed by removal: therefore in default of trained 
trees, some good plants or suckers of moderate growth, and such as 
are firm and well ripened, may be procured and planted at once 
where they are to remain; and others may be planted in the nurse- 
ry, for training a few years. 
To raise them by layers, select young branches of one or two 
years growth, laying them in the earth four or five inches deep, 
with the tops as erect as possible; they will be well rooted by next 
spring, when they should be separated from the old tree and plant- 
ed cither in the nursery or where they are to remain. 
To propagate them "by cuttings, make choice of the ripest and 
most perfect of the last year's shoots, from twelve to fifteen inches 
in length, cutting them olFwith an inch or two of the two years old 
wood at their base, leaving the tops entire and uncut. Plant these 
cuttings six or eight inches deep, in good soil, and in rows two feet 
and a half asunder, and a foot distant from one anotlier in the rows; 
here they may remain for two years when they will be in a fine 
condition for planting where wanted. 
They may also be propagated by sowing the seed in long narrow 
boxes the beginning of this month, placing them in a hot-bed to 
forward their growth; and about the middle of May, remove these 
boxes into the shade where they can have the morning sun till ten 
o'clock, and the afternoon sun from four; giving them water when 
necessary, and protecting them the winter following from frost, 
2D 
