1871.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 551 



if a nail sliould happen to be in the way, it is better to break it over than 

 injure the wall and make shelter for insects. While the work proceeds 

 it is necessary to see that no old shreds or ties are injuring the bark ; 

 room for growth should be left. Where shoots are growing outwards 

 they should be cut clean off. 



Stems of Standard Plums, Peaches, Apricots, and Cherries, should 

 be bound round with fern, straw, or hay-bands. The j)ast season has 

 been damp, cold, and sunless, and if severe weather should set in 

 much damage is likely to be done, especially in damp low-lying local- 

 ities. Raeps may now be prepared. Cut out all the weakest canes, dig 

 up what suckers are not required, cut down the fruiting-canes to 4 

 or 5 feet in length, according to strength. They may be trained to 

 wires stretched on posts 8 inches apart ; bending and arching them 

 answers well. Make fresh plantations ; choose for them deep, cool, 

 and rich soil. Where birds are troublesome it is a good old system 

 to tie fruit-bushes in bunches till late in the season, when they may 

 be pruned ; lime dusted among the branches when they are wet helps 

 to keep birds off. Plenty of manure may be forked over the surface 

 of roots of old bushes to give them vigour. The surface-soil around 

 Gooseberries may be taken off 2 inches deep, and replaced with fresh 

 soil. This practice will do much to keep caterpillars in check. Prun- 

 ings of the best kinds of bush fruits should be kept for raising fresh 

 stock. A few bushes in a spare corner are very useful, and are kept 

 with little trouble. Strong shoots 15 inches long, with all the buds 

 picked out except three at top, may be stuck into any waste ground, 

 1 foot or less apart ; they will soon take root in the growing season. 

 Others in store quarters may be lifted, the ground manured, the roots 

 shortened back, and the bushes replanted. They can be kept in this 

 way for some years, and when planted in permanent quarters on good 

 land they grow well and fruit abundantly. Much work under cover 

 may be done now, when weather prevents outdoor oj)erations from 

 being pushed forward. Stakes, labels, and slireds, where they are used, 

 may be made, nails cleaned, pots washed, mats tied at ends, and 

 all work done which will help to reduce labour when days are longer. 



In the pleasure-garden every part may now have a thorough clearing ; 

 leaves may be collected and stored, beds untouched may be turned up 

 roughly to the weather. Turn walks ; roll them, and give a surfacing 

 of fresh gravel first, then level and make them smooth. Loose walks 

 should not be tolerated if means can be had to make them smooth. 

 Gladioluses, Hollyhocks, and other plants of a similar character, are the 

 better of being protected by coal-ashes, or they can be lifted and 

 placed in pits among sand or any light soil. Eoses may now be 

 mulched, or have evergreens stuck among them. The stems of stan- 



