Monthly Calendar of Work. 489 



drouth, and transplant strawberries according to directions on 

 p. 412. 



Watch for insects, especially plant-lice, which often increase 

 rapidly during the month. Destroy the latter with strong soapsuds 

 or very strong tobacco-water. Keep a constant eye for black-knot 

 on the plum and fire-blight in the pear, and instantly cut off all 

 affected parts. 



Continue budding finishing cherry, plum, and standard pear, 

 and beginning early on apples. Mahalebs, peaches, and quinces 

 may be budded towards the close of the month. Watch budded 

 stocks and remove ligatures as soon as they cut the bark. 



Gather early pears for house-ripening. 



SEPTEMBER. 



Complete the budding of peaches and quince stocks, and timely 

 remove the ligatures. Keep new strawberry beds entirely free 

 from weeds ; and unless intended for increasing the plants, cut oft 

 the runners. Prune out the useless wood of young trees, and give 

 a good shape to the forming heads growth being now nearly 

 terminated, no check will be given to the tree. 



Prepare the ground for new orchards and fruit-gardens, see 

 pp. 54, 129. 



Top-dress orchards, as circumstances require, according to the 

 directions on p. 76. 



OCTOBER. 



Transplanting may be commenced during the present month 

 see full directions in the chapter on this subject, p. 58. 



The chief remaining work is gathering fruit. Carefully hand- 

 pick all good specimens, and avoid rubbing and bruising. Autumn 

 pears should be picked a few days before maturity ; winter varie- 

 ties are to be left on the trees as long as they can safely remain 

 without danger of freezing. For a convenient mode of gathering 

 apples, see page 109 of this work. Apples intended for market 

 should be very carefully handled, never dropped or bruised, and 

 assorted into at least three qualities, namely, extra, medium, and 

 poor the latter to be used for culinary purposes and feeding 

 animals. By this process the selected fruit will sell for more than 

 the whole would unassorted ; and the owner will acquire a reputa- 

 tion in market which will enable him to sell at high prices in the 

 most abundant seasons. 



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