2G0 THE GARDENER. [June 



manure-Wcater after it is up, being careful to keep it continually 

 moist by watering at the same time the Strawberries are watered. On 

 the whole, we find it answers our purpose well. There is this drawback 

 to it — viz., that if necessary to remove the plants during the time they 

 are swelling, they are liable to be checked by the roots which pass 

 into the turf being broken, which is not the case with saucers. Our 

 practice is, to set the fruit in a bed of leaves, then thin and place on 

 the shelves on turf, and not again to remove them until ripe. We find 

 it necessary to give the pots a lift once or twice while in the leaf-bed, 

 so as to prevent their rooting through too much. Last season we tried 

 an experiment by putting a quantity in boxes after the fruit was set 

 and placing the boxes on shelves, the same as pots : we did this to 

 save w^atering ; on the whole, it answered well. Should we ever have 

 any more boxes made for Geraniums, I will have a quantity made the 

 proper depth and width to suit Strawberries, after the Geraniums are 

 2:)otted in early spring. An active man would soon box off 100 plants, 

 simply turning them out, rubbing the thumb round the top of the ball, 

 placing them in the boxes as close as possible, and filling in with some 

 light rich soil. AVe found it necessary to run a small stick through the 

 ball in two or three places, so that the water might find its way through. 

 Ours did not require water oftener than every second day, which is 

 a great consideration in hot dry weather, and when placed on shelves 

 that are difficult to get at. 

 North Hants, April Gth. 



HINTS FOE, AMATEURS.— JUNE. 



Stone-fruits will now require much attention. To keep the foliage 

 clean and growths regular, frequent syringings, judicious disbudding, 

 and stopping are necessary. An active hand accustomed to the work 

 will do much in a few hours. The best shoots near the main branches 

 should be selected, and most of the others taken off or stopped, leav- 

 ing the top one to grow longer. Those which are selected for next 

 year may be stopped at the length they are to be pruned back to, and 

 allowed to grow on again. Crowding is injurious to the present crop, 

 and much against next year's supply. If tying and nailing is objected 

 to, the old practice of placing small twigs (such as willows in lengths) 

 with their ends under the main branches across the young growths 

 answers very well, and may be done neatly and very quickly. Many 

 old practices are often unnecessarily despised. Watering at the roots, 

 when necessary, should not be neglected. The collars of the trees are 



