Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/160

 for the convenience of inserting the buds. Early in the ensuing Spring, the stocks on which those buds are that have taken, should be headed down to within two inches of the bud, which will then grow rapidly, and must be tied in an upright form to the portion of the stock left above the eye for that purpose. When it has made a good growth, and during the month of July or August, the stock should be cut off close to the shoot by a sloping back cut, when it will soon be covered with the growth of the wood. Those stocks that have not taken, should be grafted as soon in the Spring as that operation can be performed.

.—These are usually selected from the young wood of the previous season's growth, as well as those of one or even two years; though the former is to be preferred, and should be taken from the outside branches that have been fully exposed to the sun and air. They should be cut from the parent tree, any time from January to the period of growth. When they are collected, label each sort correctly, and place them in the ground, covered to within an inch of their tops, till the season of grafting arrives, which is just before the buds open to growth. Cut the scions into lengths of from three to five eyes; and where there is an abundance, use the middle portion of the shoot only.

.—This season extends from the first of November till the swelling of the buds in Spring. Autumnal planting is to be preferred in light, dry soils; and Spring planting in retentive and heavy soils. Any time during the Winter season will do, when neither frost nor snow prevents the operation; but do not at any time expose the roots of trees in frosty, dry, windy weather; and in lifting trees, always retain as many of the fibres as practicable, and cut off neatly all that are bruised; with these precautions, trees from five to fifteen years old may be safely removed. We have seen entire or-