March.] THE NURSERY. 249 
ripe, without injuring others; for when planted in a mixed confus- 
ed way, the going through the different quarters to pull the fruit of 
a vine, here and there, is very inconvenient, and often the later 
ripening intervening kinds are injured thereby. 
If your ground is intended to be cultivated, after planting, with 
the plough, you must leave sufficient head lands for the horses to 
turn on. 
In the course of this month, as soon after pruning as the ground 
is dry and in good condition for tillage, plough and harrow be- 
tween the rows of your former plantations of vines, previously giv= 
ing such quarters, as need it, a dressing of well rotted manure; 
and dig, or give a deep hoeing, to such places as cannot be come at 
with the plough. 
THE NURSERY. 
Grafting. 
It is too difficult a task to state the precise time of grafting 
the various kinds of fruit and other trees, in the different climates 
and states of the Union; but, as I cannot do this with preci- 
sion, and must confine myself, in this article, to the periods most 
suitable for performing that operations in the middle states, where I 
am best acquainted with the seasons, I will give such hints as will 
lead to a perfect knowledge of the true periods for grafting, in every 
country, and every place. 
The best time for grafting, in the middle states, is generally 
from the twentieth of March to the tenth of April, a few days ear- 
lier or later, as vegetation may happen to be in an advanced or re- 
tarded state, which sometimes makes a difference of ten or twelve 
days. 
Grafting is always most successful, when done at the period that 
the buds of your stocks are swelled, so as to be nearly ready to 
burst into leaf: this is the time in which the greatest success may 
be expected, and should be very particularly attended to; however, 
if done a few days before, or even when the stocks display several 
expanded leaves, there may be a tolerably good hit, provided the 
operation is judiciously performed. 
Your cions or grafts must be taken off, about a month or three 
weeks before this crisis, or so soon as you are able to perceive the 
least disposition in their buds to swell: for, if not cut off in proper 
time, the grafts will not take kindly, nor will they shoot so vigo- 
rously. 
2 I 
