MONTHLY CALENDAR. 5Go 



have already remarked, perfect drainage is indispensable. Soil and subsoil 

 may both be corrected by properly-prepared stations, if the drainage be suffi- 

 cient ; without it success is impossible. 



1778. Early apples and pears, now coming on, should be gathered a day or 

 two before they are ripe ; and it is not unusual to make two or three gather- 

 ings fi-om the same tree, for, if gathered too soon, they shrivel ; andifsuflfered 

 to remain on the tree after maturity, much of the best fruit will fall and get 

 bruised while being gathered. As they are gathered, lay the pears singlj', 

 and the apples in tiers, of not more than two deep ; and separate, carefully, 

 all bruised fi'uit. All lateral shoots of wall-trees and espaliers should be cut 

 pretty closely in, there being no danger now of their breaking. 



1779. -Psttc^ies and Nectarines require to have the future bearing-shoots 

 nailed in closely, and all laterals not required, removed, so that the fruit may 

 have the full benefit of the sun, from which it derives the colour and flavour. 

 A few of the leaves may also be removed where they shade the fruit too much. 

 As the fruit approaches its ripened state, nets should be extended beneath it 

 to catch any falling fruit. To protect the fruit from wasps, use Haythorn's 

 hexagon netting ; it admits of perfectly free circulation of air, and at the same 

 time keeps off wasps and flies. Should mildew appear at any time, dust the 

 shoots with flour of sul^Dhur ; an occasional washing with soap-suds and 

 syringing with pure water will also be useful, avoiding, of course, approaching 

 too near to the fruit with either. 



1780. The object of training and pruning is to produce fruit. If this is not 

 specially attended to in the case of the peach and nectarine, the fruit will be 

 small, as well as "few and far between." To sufier trees to throw out long 

 luxurious branches, to be lopped off at the end of their growth, reason tells us 

 must be bad management, while Mr. Rivers tells us that all the pruning re- 

 quired for wall or dwarf trees should be done with the finger and thumb alone ; 

 that is, he would pinch off every shoot not required in the future economy of 

 the tree. By this means he would direct all the sap of the tree to the pro- 

 duction of strong young wood and fruit. It is obvious, therefore, that if pruning 

 has been neglected hitherto, no time should be lost in getting them in order now. 

 Let all ver}'^ luxuriant wood and fore-right branches, as well as all straggling 

 branches, be cut out, leaving ample store of young shoots, however, for next 

 year's use, nailing all in close and regular to the wall at their natural length, 

 so that all branches laid in in former months are firm in their places, and all 

 gross shoots stopped. Make a final thinning of apricots, peaches, and nectarines; 

 stop and thin plums, and syringe continually for insects. M. Du Breuil 

 recommends the application of a solution of sulphate of iron dissolved in 

 water, in the proportion of twenty-three grains to two pints of water, to the 

 peach. " It stimulates the absorbing properties of the leaves, which thus 

 attract more vigorously the rising sap." He also applies the same solution to 

 the fruit at three different stages of its growth, moistening the fruit with it 

 when it has attained a fourth of its growth, again when it is half-grown, and, 

 finally, when at three-fourths of its size. The solution excites its various 



