500 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



desirable to see order and neatness in a fruit-garden. Xo crowding 

 should be tolerated. Branches crossing one another should have the 

 knife applied to them. Old spurs cut out, moss scraped off, applica- 

 tions (such as are often recommended) for blight, (Szc, are some of the 

 things which require attention when trees and bushes are cleared of 

 their foliage. Currants (red and white) are generally spurred in to 

 one or two buds : though abundance of fruit is had in this way, a suc- 

 cession of young wood to take the place of any old branches is neces- 

 sary, thus keeping the tree vigorous and producing liner fruit. The 

 same applies to Gooseberries, but more wood may be left in them, 

 keeping the growths as upright as possible. The top shoots left as 

 "leaders" should be the strongest and shortest, so that they will 

 require little or no cutting back. Open centres and regularity should 

 be always kept in view, when bushes are pruned. Black Currants 

 do best by having the shoots thinned out to proper distances, cutting 

 out those which are unshapely and crossing on,e another. Bushes 

 should be kept free from each other, and all suckers taken off cleanly. 

 Manure may be given liberally by forking it in over the roots, 

 keeping the roots free from injury, but not covering up the clean 

 stems, as suckers would soon set to work. Old trees in orchards 

 might be much benefited by a little thinning and clearing off the 

 moss so often seen on them. Examples of neglect of this kind we 

 lately saw in a district where orchards are very extensive. The trees 

 were only in bearing condition at the points of the branches ; any 

 fruit in the centre was green, small, and cracked. Lifting and any 

 root-pruning necessary should be finished as early as possible, though 

 it is best to prune in roots, where necessary, when growth is going on. 

 Few care to make a sacrifice of fruit to get the work done so early. 

 Where soil is bad and trees are not thriving, careful lifting of the 

 roots, placing them in fresh healthy loam, and a good mulching 

 placed over the surface, will do much to help them on. If large trees 

 which cannot be lifted are to be operated on, it does best to do a 

 portion one season, the remainder to be left till the following year. 

 Crops may thus be saved, and the trees brought into good condition. 

 "Where roots are rambling far from the tree, and the soil not in healthy 

 condition, canker may be expected ere long, if it is not actually at 

 work. Root-pruning, lifting, or any other doctoring, should not be 

 practised without a just cause. Wall-trees may be pruned (Peaches, 

 Nectarines, and Apricots excepted) as soon as the leaves are off: where 

 proper management has been in practice during the summer months, 

 there will be little work for the knife ; and we here agree with the 

 remarks of the " Squire's Gardener " on summer management, though 

 some may not have understood by his saying that pruning was not 



