414 GAr.DEN MANAGEMENT. 



but tlieir light colour and greater porosity increase evaporation, and slates 

 are preferred ; and where they are not obtainable, straw or coarse hay (not 

 lawn-grass) will retain the heat and moisture, and keep the fruit free from 

 grit. Alpines and other late sorts should have all the flowers pinched off this 

 month. 



J22g. This is a fruit requiring very careful packing when sent to a distance. 

 When hampers are to be sent, the fruit should be packed in smaller baskets, with 

 lids, five or six inches square, which will pack conveniently in the larger hamper. 

 Having placed some young strawberry-leaves in the bottom and round the 

 edges of the basket, fill up the remaining space with fi-uit and leaves alter- 

 nately,— not in layers, but intermixed with the fruit, and cover the top with 

 leaves, over which place the lid. The fruit selected for packing should never 

 be over-ripe, and all bruised berries should be thrown out. 



1230. A wash of lime- or clear soot-water may be applied with advantage to 

 gooseberries and currants infested with the caterpillar. These increase so 

 rapidly that a constant watch must be kept up for some time. The earth 

 immediately under the trees should be watered and beaten firm, which will 

 prevent more of the larvjE from rising to attack the shoots. Where the earth is 

 very light, a coating of clay or loam, the consistence of mortar, should be^ 

 spread under the trees, and made firm to prevent their escape from the earth. 

 If these precautions are taken on the insects' first appearance, they are more 

 easily kept from doing mischief. Pinch back all shoots off the currant-trees 

 not wanted for wood. The fruit of gooseberries will be considerably improved 

 by summer-stopping the young wood. 



1231. 2^r;^s.— Stop all except the leading shoots when they have made three- 

 or four joints, and lay on leaders and shoots required for filling up. Watering 

 the roots with soap-suds is found greatly to benefit the fruit. 



1232. FzJies will require going over. Thin out what wood is not wanted 

 for bearing, and stop the bearing-shoots at one joint above the shoot : nail in 

 the leading shoots close to the wall. Where the long-rod system of pruning 

 is adopted, a shoot must be selected and carried up from the bottom of each 

 stem, to furnish bearing-wood for next year. By careful attention to the vine* 

 border and to pruning, the vine on open walls may be made much more pro- 

 ductive, as well as ornamental, than it usually is. 



1233. Remove useless suckers from raspberry plantations, to admit more sun 

 and air to the fruit. Begin to layer strawberries in 60-pots directly runners 

 can be obtained for next season's forcing. Let the soil used be rich and rather 

 lif^ht. to encourage the runners to root fi-eely : when layered, do not let them 

 suffer for want of water. 



§ 6.— Culture of Flowers under Glass. 



1234. Consei-vatory.— The difficulty of furnishing the conservatory is now- 

 one of taste and selection. Every floral tribe will now be ready to furnish ita. 

 quota, and discrimination only is reqixired in selecting and arranging them. 



