49G THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



places, Mushroom-houses are generally used for forcing it into use, but 

 amateurs and others may have it in a stable or any outhouse, if placed 

 in a box in soil of any kind, and kept close, dark, and moist, with heat 

 about 55° to 60°. The white tops will soon be fit for use ; when 

 allowed to grow more than G inches high, it becomes weak and worth- 

 less. Asparagus is also come-at-able by every one, as it only requires 

 packing closely and tightly in a little good earth in a box : a glass 

 light over it, and manure round it for warmth, will soon start the 

 crowns, when a watering (say at 90°) will bring it on quickly. 

 Light and air are necessary to give flavour ; blanched Asparagus is not 

 of much value. The three foregoing useful vegetables can be bought 

 cheaply by those who have no ground, and grown in towns or any- 

 where. 



Pruning of trees and bushes may be commenced, but avoiding the 

 use of the knife when the wood is frozen. If birds are troublesome, 

 pruning may stand over till late in the season, which is the least of 

 the two evils; then the buds not destroyed can be retained. Keep up 

 a regular supply of young wood among all fruit-trees ; even those 

 which are trained to long rods and spurs, such as Pears and early 

 Cherries, are the better of having new shoots occasionally led up to 

 replace old ones. Upright-growing shoots on bushes are preferable, 

 as they do not bend so much with the weight of the crop. Currants 

 may be closely spurred (except blacks, which require regulating and 

 thinning the wood) ; but vigorous shoots left to form permanent ones 

 may be left alone, yearly cutting out here and there an old one as they 

 get stunted, when young healthy ones will take their places. There 

 need not be any great haste with wall-trees ; but Plums, Cherries, 

 Pears, and Apples (where the latter may be on walls to get them extra 

 fine), may be pruned while the weather is mild. Cut off spurs 

 which are growing out from the walls ; but any which have formed 

 at the sides of main shoots should be retained, as they are likely to 

 be fruit-bearing. Pears should have (if not done in summer manage- 

 ment) the young wood shortened back to form spurs, and if placed out- 

 wardly, should be cut clean off. If spurs are crowded (which is often 

 the case on old trees), they should be thinned, and some shortened, to 

 keep the fruit near the wall. Crowding of Plums and Morello Cher- 

 ries with young wood is often seen. The fruit is thus kept small and 

 inferior in quality. Enough wood should be retained to secure 

 plenty of fruit, but not to smother it. Peaches, Nectarines, and 

 Apricots may be left till late in the season. When the leaves are off 

 the trees the young wood can be taken from the walls with much 

 benefit. The wood gets firm, and is kept from going quickly into 

 growth, and is less likely to be destroyed by early frosts. This is an 



