A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

APP 53 APP
of many of the plants that I have thus
obtained, possess much of the character
of the apple, whilst they vegetate as
early in the spring as the crab of Siberia,
and possess at least an equal power
of bearing cold ; and I possess two
plants of the family which are quite as
hardy as the most austere crab of our
woods."
By cuttings.—All the varieties may
be raised in this mode, though some,
as the Burr-knot, Codling, and Juneeating,
more readily than others. Trees
80 raised are said to be not so liable as
their parents to canker. In February
take cuttings of young shoots from some
of the horizontal branches, about eight
inches long, cutting off a portion of the
old wood of the branch attached to the
shoot ; remove all the buds except the
upper three. Plant these firmly in
sandy loam, giving water and covering
with a hand-glass until the cuttings have
well vegetated. Shade from the midday
sun; remove the hand-glass in Au-
Fig. 16.—(P. 51.)
Ik
gust; and remove the plants into the
nursery early in November.
Soil.—The most favourable soil is a
strong loam, two feet deep, on a dry
subsoil, thoroughly drained, for stagnant
root moisture induces canker and
moss.
Planting.—The soil should be trenched,
and some cultivators place immediately
beneath each tree, according to
the extent of its roots, chalk, stones,
or brick-bats rammed so as to form a
kind of pavement to direct the roots
horizontally. Plant so that the roots
nearest the surface are twelve inches
below it.
Espaliers.— In America the apple is
seldom trained as an Espalier, though
they might thus be cultivated in gardens
of limited extent, and in some
cases serve a double purpose, affording
shade and fruit. When first planted
the young plant is cut down to within
about a foot of the ground, and only
three shoots permitted to spring from it,