96 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



CHAPTER XXIV 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS IN APPLE 

 AND PEAR ORCHARDS 



JANUARY 



APPLES now in the store should be carefully examined, and 

 those that are not keeping well should be sorted over and 

 the sound fruits marketed. The best prices are obtained by 

 sending regularly, rather than by saving up for a Saturday's 

 market. Get the manure on the land for digging-in. Com- 

 plete the planting of trees ; stake orchard standards and 

 protect them from cattle. Winter pruning can be done in 

 mild weather. Destroy bullfinches and sparrows. Fill up 

 gaps in hedges and wind-shelters by planting afresh. 



FEBRUARY 



As Canadian and American Apples will soon arrive in 

 large quantities, it will be well to market most of the 

 fruit now in the store. Send the best to distant markets, 

 as the "seconds" will sell to local buyers. At this season, 

 large kitchen Apples make good prices, as imported fruits 

 do not cook well. Digging should be completed as soon 

 as possible. Towards the middle of the month any large 

 trees which are to be grafted should be headed down, and 

 the grafts to be put upon them should be procured, and be 

 heeled-in in a shady place two-thirds of their lengths below 



