238 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



!ruit and vegetable gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Many kinds of fruit trees that have arrived at 

 a bearing age, may perhaps be growing very 

 vigorously and producing very little or no fruit. 

 Those who have read our remarks in past num- 

 bers, will understand that whatever checks the 

 wood producing principle, tends to throw the 

 plant into a bearing state. For this purpose, 

 summer pruning is often employed, which, 

 by checking the most vigorous shoots, weakens 

 the whole plant, and throws it in a fruitful con- 

 dition. The same result is obtained by root pioi- 

 ning, with this difference, that by the last opera- 

 tion the whole of the branches are proportion- 

 ately cheoJced, while by pinching only the strong 

 growing shoots, the weak ones gain at the ex- 

 pense of the stronger ones. Presuming that the 

 branches have been brought into a satisfactory 

 condition in this respect, root pruning may now 

 be this month resorted to. We cannot say ex- 

 actly how far from the trunk the roots may be 

 operated on, so much depends on the age and 

 vigor of the tree. In a luxuriant, health}' tree, 

 one-fourth may be safely dispensed with. In a 

 four year old standard pear tree, for instance, 

 the roots will, perhaps, have reached four feet 

 from the trunk on every side. A circle six feet 

 in diameter may then be cut around the stem, 

 extending two feet beneath the surface. It is 

 not necessary to dig out the soil to accomplish 

 the result ; a strong post spade, or strong spade 

 of any kind, may be driven down vigorously 

 describing the circle, and doing the work very 

 effectually. Of all trees, the peach is as much 

 benefitted by root pruning as any. 



August and September are favorite months to 

 plant out Strawberries, with those who desire a 

 crop of fruit the next season. In making a sti'aw- 

 berry-bed a warm, dry spot of ground should be 

 cbosen, with, if possible, a good loamy or clayey 

 Bubsoil. A moist wet situation is very unfavor- 

 able. It is best to subsoil at least eighteen inches 

 deep, and if the soil is poor, let it be moderately 

 enriched with well decayed stable manure. In 



siting out, take care that the plants do not be- 

 come dry from the time they are taken up till 

 they are replanted, and see that they do not 

 wither afterwards. Many persons cut off the 

 leaves, if they are afraid of their wilting under 

 hot suns, but a much better plan is to shade. 

 Inverted 4-inch flower-pots are excellent for this 

 purpose ; they may be taken off at night. The 

 dews will so invigorate them, that the shade will 

 only be required for a few days. Sometimes in 

 September they may need a good watering; but 

 this should never be attempted unless a thorough 

 saturation of the bed be given ; and in a few days 

 after, the hoe and rake should be employed to 

 loosen and level the surface, which the heavy 

 watering will, in all probability, have caused to 

 bake and become very crusty. 



The Grape vine at this season will require at- 

 tention, to see that the leaves are all retained 

 healthy till thoroughly ripened. It is not a sign 

 of healthiness for a vme. to grow late ; on the 

 contrary, such late growth generally gets killed 

 in the winter — ^but the leaves should all stay on, 

 to insure the greatest health of the vine, until 

 the frost comes, when they should all be so ma- 

 ture as to fall together. Frequent heavy syring- 

 ings are amongst the best ways to keep off in- 

 sects from out-door grapes, and so protect the 

 foliage from their ravages. 



Towards the end of the month, a sowing of 

 Spinach may be made in rich soil, which will 

 come in use before winter. That desired for 

 winter and early spring use, is usually sown in 

 September in this region. A few Turnips may 

 be also sown for an early crop, but will be hot and 

 stringy unless the soil is very rich. 



As fast as endive is desired for salad, it should 

 be blanched. Matting thrown over is the best 

 for this purpose, as the plants are not so liable to 

 rot as when pots or boards are employed. In 

 cold or mountainous regions. Melons are hasten- 

 ed in the ripening process and improved in 

 flavor by a piece of tile being placed under the 

 fruit. 



Celery will require earthing up as it grows, to 

 get it to blanch well. It is not well, however, to 



