578 THE FRUIT-GARDEN. [Dec^ 
often does considerable injury to young trees, and sometimes lays 
the foundation of diseases which ultimately destroy them. 
Figs in particular will require this attention, and besides, the tops 
and stems of the tender kinds, should be covered with mats, or other 
suitable protection, where the frosts are extremely severe. 
Pruning nipples and Pears on Espaliers, Sfc. 
Apples and pears being perfectly hardy, may now be pruned if 
the weather happens to be mild, agreeably to the directions given in 
page 25; but if this is not deemed necessary on account of dispatch- 
ing business when it can conveniently be done, it will be rather bet- 
ter to defer pruning till the latter end of February, unless you do it 
before the severe frosts set in. 
As to the pruning of stone fruit-trees, I would not recommend it 
to be done in the middle or eastern states at this season, for the 
reasons assigned in page 224, &c. but in the southern states it may 
be now performed with the greatest safety. 
Gooseberries and currants being extremely hardy, may be pruned 
in any of the winter months; but where it is intended to propagate 
the best kinds from the cuttings, it will not be adviseable to prune 
or dress them when the ground is so frozen as to prevent your being^ 
able to plant the good cuttings taken off in pruning. 
Other necessary Work. 
You must be careful to keep the frost out of the apartments where 
the choice winter fruits are put up, for should any of them get fro- 
zen they would certainly decay soon after, and rot the others about 
them. Examine the fruit which you have on shelves in dry warm 
cellars, once every ten days, and take away any that you find taint- 
ed: continue over them near a foot thick of clean dry straw, and 
secure the windows and doors from the admission of frost. 
Take off all moss from your fruit trees, and when it is gathered, 
carry it quite om of the garden, to prevent its multiplying by seed, 
which it is very apt to do. 
Nail or tie up the dangling shoots which are loose on walls or es- 
paliers, to prevent their being dashed about by the winds, and con- 
sequently their bark injured. 
Repair all your decayed espaliers, or prepare stakes and other 
materials for so doing as soon as the frost gets out of the ground. 
Make or provide and paint, such new frame-work trellises as you 
intend to erect next spring, and do every other work that may have 
u tendency to forward your business at that season. 
Prepare for Forcing Fruit-Trees. 
Towards the latter end of this, or the beginning of next month, 
put on the glasses or lights on your tire-heat forcing frames, such 
as are described in page 40, and immediately prune and nail up the 
trees in regular order, if not done before. 
